Kilmarnock stretched their unbeaten run to six games with a first half strike from Ally Mitchell to give them a 1-0 win over Aberdeen.

Aberdeen had the better start as Killie, with Ian Durrant back in their starting line-up, struggled to get a grip in midfield.

But while the Dons enjoyed most of the early pressure they rarely troubled Gordon Marshall in the home goal.

The first real chance of the match fell to Andy McLaren on four minutes after Dons goalkeeper Ryan Esson slipped on the wet turf.

McLaren tried a shot from a tight angle but Philip McGuire headed the ball clear from the line. Then Alan Mahood had a shooting chance for Killie but he blasted the ball over the bar from 20 yards.

But soon the Dons began to get into the game and Kevin McNaughton forced a good save from Marshall in the 17th minute.

Ally McCoist headed a Mitchell cross wide of the goal when he should have hit the target. It was Mitchell however who shot the home side ahead with his second in successive games, taking a Paul Wright pass in his stride and shooting low past Esson.

The Dons continued to give as good as they got in the first half and McNaughton was unfortunate when Mahood blocked his shot just before the interval.

Early in the second half McCoist should have scored Killie's second. Gary Hay set up the opportunity with a cross from the left but McCoist shot weakly at the Dons keeper.

Then Chris Clark missed a good opportunity to get the visitors back on level terms in the 51st minute.

The young striker dispossessed Chris Innes 30 yards out and ran in on goal, but he was denied by Marshall who had raced off his line.

Aberdeen had by far the best of the second half but they just couldn't convert their possession into goals.

In one hectic spell they forced four corners in as many minutes but the Killie defence somehow managed to hold firm.

Substitute James Fowler had a chance to seal the points for the Rugby Park side in 77 minutes but his angled drive trickled past the Dons goal.

The match produced four bookings, with Mitchell and McLaren booked for Kilmarnock and Guntveit and Rowson for the visitors.