Former Aberdeen defender David Lilley returned to haunt his old club as Kilmarnock twice came from behind to claim a point at Pittodrie.

Barry Nicholson had given the Dons the lead in the 10th minute with a drive from the edge of the box, before Steven Naismith scored a 30th-minute penalty after Richie Byrne fouled Killie striker Gary Wales.

Aberdeen captain Russell Anderson appeared to have clinched the points for the home side 16 minutes before the end.

But, in the 85th minute, Lilley sent a downward header past Jamie Langfield to snatch a draw for Killie.

The Dons had been slow to settle but gradually found their rhythm and broke the deadlock in the 10th minute.

Kevin McNaughton swept a cross towards Stevie Crawford, who was positioned on the edge of the penalty area, and the former Dunfermline striker immediately played the ball into the path of team-mate Nicholson

The midfielder then calmly sent his effort into the bottom right-hand corner of Alan Combe's goal, despite being forced to shoot with his weaker left-foot.

Kilmarnock responded with a shot from Colin Nish which drifted well wide, but the Dons should have doubled their lead when Byrne connected with a Jamie Smith corner in the 25th minute.

However, from 10 yards out and in a central position, the unmarked left-back knocked his header just past the far post.

Despite the Dons being largely in control, an aimless ball forward by Frazer Wright behind Byrne caused problems for the Aberdeen defender.

And, when Wales skipped inside the Irishman, a clumsy challenge from Byrne brought the striker to the ground inside the penalty area.

Referee Craig Thomson had no hesitation in awarding a penalty kick to Kilmarnock and Naismith coolly rolled the ball into the net from 12 yards out after Langfield gambled and dived the wrong way.

The second half started in the worst possible way for McNaughton as the 23-year-old was forced to leave the field on a stretcher in the 50th minute.

Allan Johnston sent Danny Invincibile scampering down the right with a fine ball, but, when the Australian tried to move into the area, he was met by a well-timed tackle from McNaughton.

Unfortunately for the defender, Invincibile's trailing boot appeared to strike the Scotland cap on the head and McNaughton had to be substituted for debutant Neil MacFarlane.

However, Aberdeen recovered from that setback and, in the 74th minute, took the lead thanks to Anderson who scored his third goal against the Rugby Park side this season.

Smith's in-swinging corner was flicked on by the head of debutant MacFarlane and, in the ensuing melee, Anderson was on hand to bundle the ball into the net past the helpless Combe.

That strike had appeared to give Aberdeen a deserved win against the Ayrshire club, but with only five minutes remaining the Dons slipped to their sixth draw in their last 10 games.

Johnston's cross was met by the on-rushing Lilley and, from eight yards out, he sent a downward header past Langfield.

Amazingly, though, the defender almost handed the Dons a dramatic victory deep in stoppage time.

Lilley's weak header back to Combe was intercepted by Smith, but the midfielder's low shot was pounced upon by the Kilmarnock goalkeeper who spared his team-mate's blushes.

Teams

Aberdeen Langfield, Clark, Anderson,McNaughton (MacFarlane 52), Byrne (Foster 72), Nicholson,Severin, Griffin, Smith, Mackie (Lovell 72), Crawford.

Subs Not Used: Esson, Stewart, Macauley.

Goals: Nicholson 10, Anderson 74.

Kilmarnock Combe, Fowler, Lilley, Ford, Hay,Invincibile (Locke 86), Wright, Naismith (Murray 80), Johnston,Nish (Di Giacomo 83), Wales.

Subs Not Used: McDonald, Campbell, Loy.

Goals: Naismith 31 pen, Lilley 85.

Att: 10,540

Ref: C Thomson (Scotland).