Aberdeen showed no sign of a European hangover as they comfortably brushed aside Kilmarnock with a 2-0 win at Pittodrie.
Graeme Shinnie netted after 37 minutes to put the Dons in front at the break before Adam Rooney converted a penalty after 56 minutes to give Derek McInnes’ men all three points.
The Dons made three changes from the side that exited the Europa League with a 1-1 draw against Kairat Almaty on Thursday.
Paul Quinn, Willo Flood and last season’s top scorer Adam Rooney were all handed starts with Andrew Considine and David Goodwillie dropping to the bench, while Peter Pawlett missed out with an ankle injury.
Kilmarnock arrived in Aberdeen looking to make amends after starting the new season with a disastrous 4-0 home defeat by Dundee.
The Dons dominated the early exchanges with Niall McGinn denied by a fine save from Jamie MacDonald before a Quinn header struck the crossbar with the Kilmarnock goalkeeper beaten.
The hosts continued to lay siege to the Kilmarnock goal with Kenny McLean testing MacDonald from distance before the former Hearts stopper displayed great reflexes to keep out a Shaleum Logan header.
The Aberdeen goal finally arrived after 37 minutes when the ball broke kindly for Shinnie after great play by Jonny Hayes and the former Caley Thistle player expertly found the top corner of the net with the outside of his left foot to break the deadlock.
There was an early scare for the Dons four minutes into the second half when Kallum Higginbotham picked out Scott Robinson but the midfielder’s header flew over the crossbar, much to the relief of Dons goalkeeper Danny Ward.
But the Dons had a chance to put the match beyond the Ayrshire side after 56 minutes when Flood was tripped by a reckless challenge from Lee Ashcroft and Rooney sent MacDonald the wrong way from the spot.
The result moves Aberdeen level with Celtic and Hearts at the top of the table with all three teams on six points after their opening two matches.
