Aberdeen survived a Kilmarnock fightback to scrape their first league victory since Boxing Day at Pittodrie.

Eoin Jess fired the Dons ahead a minute from the break and new signing Andreas Mayer made it 2-0 at the start of the second half to put the home side firmly in the driving seat.

But the Dons sat back on their lead and Alan Mahood threw Killie a lifeline when he pulled a goal in the 66th minute.

That set up a nervous finish for the home fans but Aberdeen held on for a welcome win against Rangers' nearest title challengers.

Dons boss Paul Hegarty will be concerned at the way his side took their foot off the gas after building a 2-0 lead.

Killie boss Bobby Williamson will be a worried man, this defeat following hot on the heels of a Scottish Cup exit against Ayr and a disappointing draw with Dundee.

Aberdeen set about their task straight from the start but while they had all the pressure, they just couldn't find the breakthrough until a minute before the break.

Mark Perry fed the ball to Jess who turned before sending a low shot past Marshall in the Killie goal.

After the break Mayer opened his goalscoring account at Aberdeen when he grabbed the second with a looping header after he latched on to a Mike Newell cross.

The Dons then seemed quite content to sit back and allow Killie to do all the work, and after Iain Durrant had fired a low shot just wide it seemed only a matter of time before Killie would grab a goal back.

This almost came just after the hour mark when Mahood's shot crashed off the bar after Jim Leighton had palmed away a fierce effort from Ally McCoist.

The inevitable goal came soon after though when Killie reduced the deficit with the goal of the match.

The ball broke kindly for Mahood and the former Morton man beat Leighton with a delightful curling shot from the edge of the box.

However Aberdeen found enough energy at the end of the game to almost regain their two-goal advantage.

Jess came close to grabbing his second but Durrant cleared his shot off the line after Darren Young had played in a great cross from the by-line.

Teams:

Aberdeen: Leighton, Perry, Whyte, Inglis, Smith, Jess, Newell, Mayer, Kiriakov (Buchan 71), Darren Young, Winters (Wyness 75).

Subs Not Used: Stillie, Dow, Derek Young.

Booked: Inglis, Kiriakov, Darren Young.

Goals: Jess 44, Mayer 47.

Kilmarnock: Marshall, MacPherson, Montgomerie, McGowne, Reilly, Durrant, McCoist (Wright 79), Mahood, Baker (Burke 62), Vagan, McCutcheon (Roberts 58).

Subs Not Used: Henry, Strain.

Booked: MacPherson, Montgomerie, Baker, Mahood.

Goals: Mahood 66.

Att: 9,299

Ref: M McCurry (Glasgow).