Aberdeen have set themselves up to finish second again with their convincing win at Kilmarnock.
The 2-0 victory at Rugby Park was a lot more like the Dons we have been accustomed to watching as they put their Scottish Cup semi-final loss to Motherwell behind them.
It was pretty comfortable for them, although perhaps hard-fought in the second half.
But certainly I thought in the first half Aberdeen were in total control and never looked in any danger.
The Reds were solid at the back and never looked in danger which will have been a relief to Derek McInnes after the Scottish Cup semi-final.
He reverted back to the pairing of Anthony O’Connor and Scott McKenna who seem to have developed a good relationship.
It was much more like Aberdeen and McInnes will be looking for that type of performance in the remaining four games. If they play like that then the Dons have got every chance of finishing second again.
Killie have been very good recently but Aberdeen seem to have the sign over them and know how to play and get the better of them.
It was important the Dons started the post-split fixtures with a win.
From the outside looking in people may have fancied Killie given their recent record.
But even since Stevie Clarke has taken over the Reds have been better than Killie in games where they’ve met.
The Scottish Cup quarter-final replay was a tense affair, but other than that the Dons have had the better of them.
It was important to get the win – it’s relief to see the points in the bag but also the performance being so good.
It’s set the Dons up with three home games next against Hearts, Hibs and Rangers to clinch second spot.
I think if they can win all three homes games then second place will belong to Aberdeen.
It’s all there for them.
It’s just down to performances and if they perform they can finish the season on a high.
In recent years when Aberdeen have finished second they haven’t picked up that many points after the split.
That tells you it’s usually been a bit of a canter for them to finish second.
But this year it’s a different league with Hibs back, Hearts in there, Kilmarnock doing well and Rangers, while unpredictable, are back at a certain level.
It’s a much more competitive Premiership and this is the first time the Dons have really been challenged in the post-split fixtures.
That means their end of the season performances need to be good to clinch a Europa League spot for the fifth successive season and to finish second for the fourth year in a row.
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