Kilmarnock's injury nightmare continued as Danny Invincibile failed to recover from a hamstring strain in time for the match. His misfortune allowed Craig Dargo to take his place in the first eleven for the first time this season.
This enforced change was in addition to two other changes to the mauling at Tannadice with Gordon Greer and Stevie Murray replacing Barry McLaughlin and Gary McDonald.
Dargo showed that he had lost none of his sharpness as he scored the opening goal within the first 60 seconds. Paul Tosh stooped to nod the ball back to David Preece but was fractionally short allowing Dargo to nip in ahead of the keeper and prod the ball home.
The home side had started brightly but lost their control in midfield when Gary Locke limped off with an injury similar to Invincibile.
Aberdeen looked to have no set plan to break down their opponents, but were still able to equalise in the 23rd minute. Steve Tosh had oceans of space at the far post to knock Scott Morrison's cross into the path of Bryan Prunty. The striker looked certain to score, but mis-kicked the ball away from goal, but was still able to recover and bundle the ball home past Garry Hay, for his first goal for the Dons.
Killie recovered and reclaimed their advantage five minutes later. Eric Skora's inch-perfect corner kick found Kris Boyd at the far post and he thundered the ball past Preece.
Killie could have increased their advantage before the break, but Skora steered wide after he and Boyd had broken upfield following an Aberdeen free-kick and Rhian Dodds had a 22 yard effort blocked by the keeper's legs.
Neither side threatened in the second half until the 70th minute when Boyd's free-kick thundered off the keeper's chest. The killer third goal came in the 75th minute after Aberdeen's defensive aberration. Michael Hart lost possession in his own half, but Gary McSwegan's weak shot shouldn't have caused any bother but Preece inexplicably pushed the ball into Boyd's path and he gratefully tucked the ball home.