Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes praised Lewis Ferguson after the teenager kept a cool head to score the winner in the Dons' 2-1 win over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.

Killie had taken the lead through a Kris Boyd penalty and looked in command of the game but substitute Bruce Anderson diverted Niall McGinn's shot into the net to equalise before Ferguson curled in a sumptuous free-kick three minutes from full time.

It was the second time in seven days Ferguson had delivered a crucial goal after his winner in the League Cup semi-final over Rangers.

McInnes praised the player's versatility and maturity, saying he played like someone with years more experience.

"In the last three games he's played three different roles," he said. "Here he went from being a number 10 to a number eight in the second half. In midweek, with the way Hamilton shape up, he played as a four in front of the back four and ran the game.

"There's a boy that's had to deal with everything that came his way last Sunday. Some youngsters can get carried away. His temperament has never been in question. He's a boy but he's a man. Nothing fazes him.

"He takes responsibility and there's a maturity about him that I love. He's still making contact and winning more headers and tackles than anyone else. Then he comes up with the free-kick.

"He can do a bit of everything. But for me his best is as an attacking midfielder and I think he will score important goals, as he has done this week.

"It's important we don't expect too much from him but I know what I'm going to get most weeks. Some days will be better than others but he always brings a good performance."

Steve Clarke admitted defeat was "tough to take" after his side enjoyed the majority of attacking play.

"That's football," he said. "If you have as much control of a match that we had then you have to create a few more opportunities and get the second goal, which would have put the game to bed. We didn't do that.

"However, I don't think that anyone could have seen Aberdeen scoring twice near the end because they only had two shots on target all afternoon. It's a tough one to take but we need to improve if we want to stay in the top half of the table."