Kilmarnock manager Kenny Shiels cut a frustrated figure after his side's fine form came to a stuttering halt despite the perfect start against Aberdeen at Rugby Park

The home side took the lead after just three minutes through Ryan O'Leary, but the visitors hit back with goals from Gavin Rae, Niall McGinn and Scott Vernon to secure a 3-1 win.

Although Aberdeen largely dominated play after O'Leary's early opener, the Kilmarnock boss thought the scoreline was an unfair reflection on the game.

He said: "With the exception of Celtic, the teams are so close in this league. When it's marginal, teams get a break and that's what wins matches. We have done that recently and I thought Aberdeen did that against us.

"After we scored the early goal we let them have the ball but they didn't really create any chances in the first half and didn't work our keeper.

"I was happy at half-time but it was a stupid mistake that let Rae in for their goal to make it 1-1. After that we had chances and I thought we were hard done to with the final result."

Aberdeen boss Craig Brown was delighted as his team headed back north with three points, and disagreed with his opposite number on the outcome.

"I don't want to disagree with Kenny, who has done a fantastic job at Kilmarnock, but if he thinks they deserved something from the game then I can't agree with him," he said.

"Even before they scored we had a great chance through Niall McGinn and that miss could have cost us. After that we had six chances to score in the first half that we didn't take.

"But I told the guys at half-time that we would get our rewards if we just kept at it and in that respect I was delighted for Scott Vernon, who has been great from the start of the season without getting a league goal until today."