ABERDEEN, Scotland (Interstat) — Aberdeen secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Kilmarnock in a Scottish Premiership match at Pittodrie Stadium on Sunday, defying a late surge from the visitors to claim three points.

The home side, now with six wins, six losses and five draws in league play, took control early. Substitute Tyreece John-Jules, entering the match to provide a spark, delivered just that by opening the scoring in the 17th minute. The goal, assisted by fellow substitute Robbie Deas, gave Aberdeen a lead they would protect for the majority of the contest.

The game’s tempo was frequently interrupted by officiating, with seven yellow cards issued in a disjointed second half. Kilmarnock’s George Stanger was booked in the 51st minute, followed by teammate Robbie Deas in the 57th and Brad Lyons in the 61st. Aberdeen’s James Brown saw a yellow in the 69th, with Marko Lazetić and Adil Aouchiche of Aberdeen and Kilmarnock’s Liam Polworth also booked in the closing stages.

Despite the stop-start nature, Kilmarnock, which now holds a league record of one win, nine losses and six draws, found a late equalizer. In the 79th minute, forward Kenan Bilalovic scored, assisted by James Brown, to level the match at 1-1 and threaten Aberdeen’s grip on the result.

The parity was short-lived. Aberdeen responded almost immediately, with forward Jesper Karlsson restoring the home side’s lead. The decisive goal, assisted by midfielder Adil Aouchiche, secured the 2-1 final scoreline.

The result continued a positive trend for Aberdeen, which has now won three of its last four Premiership matches, including a 1-0 win over this same Kilmarnock side on Oct. 29. For Kilmarnock, the search for a consistent form continues, having managed only one win in its last 16 matches across all competitions.

The match outcome proved the pregame projections partially incorrect. While Interstat’s ELO system gave Aberdeen a 54.4 percent probability to win, its game simulator had predicted a 2-2 draw, a result Kilmarnock’s late push nearly achieved.

Key performances came primarily from substitutes. Beyond John-Jules’ opening goal, assists from substitutes Robbie Deas, George Stanger, James Brown, Liam Polworth and Brad Lyons accounted for all the setup play in the match, highlighting the impact of both managers’ benches.

Aberdeen moves forward in the table with the win, while Kilmarnock remains mired near the bottom. The two sides are scheduled to meet again on Jan. 31, 2026, at Kilmarnock’s ground.

Up next, Aberdeen faces a stern test away to Celtic on Dec. 21. Kilmarnock will look to rebound at home against Falkirk FC on Dec. 20.