Aberdeen extended their unbeaten run to six games as they emphatically sent Kilmarnock to their fourth consecutive defeat with 3-1 win at Pittodrie.
Aberdeen dominated the game throughout and the large home support went away happy in the knowledge that, following the indifferent start to the season, their side are now making real progress.
Killi, on the other hand, are a side devoid of fight and, on this showing, may force manager Jim Jefferies to look to bring in several players during the transfer window.
Dons boss Steve Paterson made two changes to the side which came so close to picking up all three points at Livingstone.
The injured Fergus Teirnan was replaced by Zander Diamond and Scott Muirhead dropped down to the bench with his place going to Richard Forster.
Visitors Kilmarnock were dealt a double blow before kick-off with recognised first-team keepers Francois Dubourdeau and Colin Meldron both mising through injury and flu respectively. This left Jefferies handing a debut to the untried youngster Craig Samson.
The Dons took the lead with their first meaningful attack on six minutes, Shields needlessly fouled Booth on the edge of the area. From the resulting free-kick Morrison whipped in a vicious cross onto the head of Diamond, to bullet home from six yards out to record his first goal for the club.
There were further problems for the visitors on 24 minutes, when Shields had to be stretchered form the field after a collision with Booth. He was replaced by Fowler.
Aberdeen had a let off on 32 minutes, Nish headed down Fulton's free-kick into the path of Gary McDonald who appeared to be impeded by Markus Heikkinen as he was about to shoot on goal.
Minutes later Killie should had been on level terms when they were awarded a soft penalty when Heikkinen and Nish clashed just inside the area as they chased a long through ball form Frederic Dindeleux.
Despite the home side's protests referee Hugh Dallas waved aside their protestations. Nish dusted himself down before all too casually stroking the ball home just inside the right-hand post, but the keeper dived full length to turn the ball away.
In 42 minutes Forster led the Killie rearguard a merry dance, ghosting past three defenders before firing his shot from 12 yards straight into the mid-rift of keeper Samson.
The Dons were not to be outdone when Tosh netted in the next minute, latching onto a Booth pass and sliding the ball just inside the upright from one-yard giving keeper Samson no chance.
Dons hitman Scott Booth should have increased his side's lead when he hooked an Anderson back header over the bar form six yards out minutes in the second half.
The Dons were very much the dominant side as they were boosted by their first-half lead as Killie faced wave after wave of attacks.
The next goal came as no surprise when they extended their lead on 58 minutes, Morrison cut in from the byline then went past Locke before driving in a low 25-yard effort which Samson failed to hold, and, like all good strikers, Leigh Hinds was first to react shooting home from eight yards.
At the other end, Peter Canero picked out Nish who took a clever first touch before firing in a volley form 15 yards which Preece did well to hold.
Nish looked prominent again when he picked up sub Murrey's pass, held off the challenge of Diamond but could not trouble Preece as his shot flew off target.
Nish finally got the goal his play deserved in the 83rd minute when he got between Anderson and Diamond to head a Frederic Dindeleux free-kick past Preece for a late consolation goal for the visitors.
The home side's win should have been more comprehensive had Clark shown more composure when he blazed Muirhead's pullback wildly over late on from 12 yards out.