Aberdeen kept their Champions League hopes for next season alive with a narrow win over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.

After a poor first half ended goalless, an own goal by James Fowler after 58 minutes handed the visitors a scarcely deserved lead, and Dons skipper Russell Anderson stabbed home goal number two 10 minutes later.

Kilmarnock striker Steven Naismith pulled a goal back from the spot with six minutes to go, to set up an exciting finish, but the Ayrshire side were unable to snatch a draw in the Bank of Scotland Premier League clash.

It was a classic game of contrasting halves, with the first offering little excitement.

The third-placed visitors forced the first corner of the game in the 12th minute but it came to nothing and even that early on it appeared that goalmouth incidents could be at a premium.

In the 15th minute Rocco Quinn's whipped free-kick from the left was fumbled by Dons goalkeeper Jamie Langfield amid a throng of bodies but Kilmarnock failed to take advantage.

Moments later, Aberdeen stopper Andrew Considine was rather harshly adjudged to have fouled Sylla 30 yards from goal but Peter Leven blasted his shot against the defensive wall.

Kilmarnock had the slight edge but all too often the ball bounced uncontrollably around a packed midfield which afforded little time to players in possession.

In the 26th minute Langfield again fumbled a searching free-kick from wide, this time from Leven, but recovered quickly to block David Lilley's snap-shot and the Pittodrie side emerged unscathed.

Aberdeen were being pressed further back towards Langfield but the home side were getting little closer to actually scoring.

Momo Sylla's cross from wide on the right was met by Gary Wales but the former Hearts striker headed wide from 10 yards out, falling awkwardly doing so.

In the 45th minute Naismith evaded Dons skipper Russell Anderson to latch onto a Quinn pass but Langfield was quick off his mark to block the shot. It was the best chance of the half.

Kilmarnock goalkeeper Graeme Smith was still waiting to be tested.

Lovell replaced Smith at the interval as Aberdeen tried to shake themselves out of their lethargy by adding to their firepower and tweaking their formation.

In the 53rd minute Richie Byrne was booked for a reckless foul on Sylla on the right touchline but Leven's free-kick was confidently clutched out of the air by Langfield, the Dons keeper appearing to have recovered from his nervous start.

Moments later, Quinn found himself inside the Aberdeen penalty area taking possession of Leven's clever pass but the midfielder screwed his left-footed shot from 16 yards wide of the far post.

But in the 58th minute, the visitors, in the most fortuitous of circumstances, took the lead courtesy an own goal by James Fowler.

As Aberdeen pressed the home side back into their own penalty box, the Kilmarnock midfielder tried to cut out an attempted one-two between Gary Dempsey and Craig Brewster.

But from eight yards out Fowler only succeeded in heading past the helpless Smith who had come off his line to gather.

It was a slice of luck undeserving of the Pittodrie side's play and in the 68th minute things got worse for Killie when they fell two behind.

Sylla was penalised for a foul on Byrne and when Scott Severin's free-kick came into the box, the home defence failed to clear which allowed Anderson to poke the ball home from close range.

Despite their two goal lead, the Dons still did not look convincing.

And in the 84th minute Kilmarnock were handed a lifeline when Naismith scored from the spot after referee Brian Winter had awarded a penalty for an Anderson handball in the box after consulting with his assistant.

Kilmarnock pounded the Dons' penalty box, with substitute Colin Nish, on for Wales, sending one shot past the post when he should have at least tested Langfield.

However, the Pittodrie side held on for the three points which they perhaps did not deserve.

Teams:

Kilmarnock Smith, Greer, Hay, Lilley (Koudou 81),Frazer Wright, Fowler, Sylla, Quinn (Gibson 73), Leven,Wales (Nish 70), Naismith.

Subs Not Used: Harpur, Ford, Di Giacomo, Hamill.

Booked: Sylla, Frazer Wright.

Goals: Naismith 86 pen.

Aberdeen Langfield, Diamond, Byrne, Anderson, Considine,Severin, Dempsey, Daniel Smith (Lovell 46), Clark, Mackie,Brewster (Miller 70).

Subs Not Used: Soutar, Winter, Donald, Maguire, McVitie.

Booked: Byrne.

Goals: Fowler 59 og, Anderson 69.

Att: 7,236

Ref: B Winter (Scotland).