Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin praised his team’s defensive grit after holding on for a vital 1-0 win at Kilmarnock.
The Dons stood firm to prevail through an 18th minute Stuart Armstrong goal and move up a place to 10th in the William Hill Premiership.
Thelin believes that scrapping their way to a third league win in four games is an encouraging sign after a tough start to the season.
He said: “It was a really important win for us. It was a difficult away game, Kilmarnock do a lot of things well.
“We have struggled for consistency this season but we showed that we can stand up in the fight and be competitive.
“It was great to see us show that side of us.
“It was a long trip for our fans on a Wednesday night during what is a difficult time for us. So it was nice to give something back to them.
“You have to defend well and the concentration was all there. We have shown we can do it and now we have to build on this.
Thelin was thrilled with the performance of wing-back Dylan Lobban, 20, who debuted on the right flank in one of four changes.
He explained: “Dylan wasn’t ‘given’ his chance – he deserved his chance. He has been pushing since summer, maybe has been close in other games.
“We chose other players but he’s never complained and kept on doing really well.
“He’s taken his opportunity; he has shown he is ready. He did so well.”
Scottish international Armstrong pounced on a loose ball to punish a static Kilmarnock defence for the game’s only goal.
Thelin added: “In that moment, this quality and calmness was excellent. Stuart is always dangerous arriving around the box, having this presence.
“Football is about taking opportunities, especially in away games when you might not have that many chances.”
Kilmarnock lost for the third game in a row and their boss Stuart Kettlewell was unhappy with another sign for defensive frailty.
Kettlewell, without number one Max Stryjek for several months for health reasons, used emergency loan goalkeeper Tobi Oluwayemi from Celtic in place of Eddie Beach.
Kettlewell said: “We found a different way to lose a goal and that was hugely disappointing.
“Our goalie didn’t have much to do, so we didn’t learn a lot about him.
“But it’s not a good recipe when you lose a goal like that and not score at the other end.
“The worst we should be walking away with is a 0-0.
“For the goal, you expect instincts to kick in and deal with it.
“But we were stationary at that moment when we needed a better reaction.”
