"If you don't score in five games you deserve stick, and my players need to take more responsibility to answer the critics.

"The team was set up to be as positive as we could today to try to go and score goals., but I understand criticism from the fans.

"We should have had a penalty in the first half for a challenge from Niko Hamalainen on Matty Kennedy, it was inside the box by a good foot, and that's one of three we should have had in the last five games.

"I thought we actually played well today and if you watched that game in isolation you'd have seen a team very composed and who did so much right in the game – but once again not enough determination to score a goal."

Kilmarnock manager Alex Dyer was pleased with his side's performance, saying. "We came here, worked hard and got a result which gives us a chance of making the next round.

"We were missing a couple of players and have wide players who love getting forward so it was ideal to play three at the back.

"The wind was strong but we weathered that. Aberdeen din't cause us too many problems – we didn't create a lot, but we were comfortable and it was good a performance.

"It wasn't pretty but after the run we'd been on we now have three games unbeaten and the boys are happy with where they are."