Two goals in the final eight minutes gave Kilmarnock their third successive home win.

Aberdeen appeared to be on the way to taking a point from Rugby Park before Kris Boyd and Alan Mahood grabbed late strikes for Killie.

A tremendous 30-yard Hicham Zerouali drive had cancelled out Freddie Dindelux's first-half opener.

But, in the end, the Dons' poor record at Rugby Park was compounded with the Pittodrie side still searching for their first win in Ayrshire since 1995.

There was a frantic start to the match but, once both sides settled down, it was Kilmarnock who looked the sharper and more dangerous.

And there was no real surprise then when they took the lead in the 12th minute.

Antonio Calderon swung a free-kick in from the right and Frenchman Dindelux rose above a static Aberdeen defence to hit home from six yards.

The home side should have doubled the lead when Stephen Murray raced down the left before crossing in to the unmarked Craig Dargo.

The ex-Raith Rovers player looked a certainty to score but somehow managed to pull the ball past the post from six yards.

The home side always looked dangerous on the break and had another chance to score two minutes from the interval when a Dargo back-heel released Paul Di Giacomo.

The youngster went clear through on goal but lacked confidence and drove the ball straight at Dons keeper Peter Kjaer.

The second half began with Kilmarnock still on top and the visitors looking as if they had run out of ideas.

After 57 minutes, Aberdeen manager Ebbe Skovdahl brought on Eugene Dadi for Derek Young to provide some spark and, within two minutes, the visitors were level.

Zerouali picked up the ball 30 yards from goal and unleashed a vicious shot which crashed in off the crossbar giving Kilmarnock goalkeeper Gordon Marshall no chance.

At the other end, Kilmarnock almost restored their lead when Dargo broke clear on the left but his pass was just too strong for Di Giacomo.

As the second half wore on, there was little between the teams but, with only eight minutes remaining, Kilmarnock took the lead for the second time with a goal by substitute Boyd.

Murray slipped as he sent in a cross from the left but the ball landed at the feet of Boyd 15 yards from goal.

The substitute, who had replaced Dargo 13 minutes earlier, turned instantly and drove a low shot instantly into the net.

Aberdeen went all out in search of the equaliser but Kilmarnock looked dangerous on the break.

With only three minutes to go, Mahood secured all three points for the home side when he slotted home from close range after a mix-up in the Dons defence.

Teams

Kilmarnock: Marshall, Fowler, McGowne, Dindeleux, Hay, Mitchell, Mahood, Calderon, Murray, Dargo (Boyd 69), Di Giacomo (Cocard 84).

Subs Not Used: Samson, Canero, McLaren.

Goals: Dindeleux 12, Boyd 82, Mahood 88.

Aberdeen: Kjaer, Anderson, Guntveit, Whyte, McNaughton (McAllister 65), McGuire, Darren Young, Derek Young (Dadi 58), Zerouali, Bisconti, Winters (Thornley 84).

Subs Not Used: Esson, Tiernan.

Booked: Whyte.

Goals: Zerouali 60.

Att: 7,611

Ref: G Mitchell (Scotland).