THERE are too many imponderables in football to venture into the foolhardy world of clairvoyance.

We could, however, go as far to predict that Gary Locke will face huge difficulties as he tries to steer Kilmarnock away from choppy waters this season while Aberdeen, bristling with confidence and energy, should delight their growing army of supporters between now and the season's end.

In truth, and putting aside a number of over-robust challenges from the visitors, this was akin to a pre-season practice, though given the penchant for managers and players not to be disrespectful to other teams, no-one would say that publicly inside Pittodrie.

Aberdeen had certainly exerted themselves against Kairat Almaty only three days earlier, exiting the Europa League with their heads held high.

They were not expected to struggle against a Kilmarnock squad squashed 4-0 at home by Dundee the previous weekend and apprehensive about facing an outfit already well into their stride, courtesy of six European ties before yesterday's Ladbrokes Premiership encounter.

Summer excursions to Macedonia, Croatia and Kazakhstan have so far served the Reds well and their sharpness was evident as Graeme Shinnie opened the scoring and Willo Flood's bursting run into the area forced a penalty kick.

It was pretty much a stroll in the sunshine for Aberdeen.

"We asked the players before the game to make sure they didn't put one game above the other in terms of importance.

"We had raiding full-backs, the movement was great and we dominated in the middle of the park.

"It was a real dominant performance.

"We looked as if we could score time and time again, their keeper made some good saves.

"After the hectic time we've had to get two wins and two clean sheets to start the league season I'm delighted."

Killie may have shown no signs of anxiety in the opening skirmishes, but it took the hosts just 13 minutes to impose themselves as Niall McGinn forced Jamie MacDonald to finger-tip his 25-yard strike round the post after which Paul Quinn headed the corner-kick off the post.

MacDonald's reflex stop of Shay Logan's header soon after told the Kilmarnock goalkeeper what he would already have known, that Aberdeen had found their rhythm and when Jonny Hayes skipped past a trio of watery challenges from leaden-footed defenders, the ball fell perfectly for Shinnie to deliver an eye-catching opener.

If damage limitation was on Locke's mind during the break, his attackers thought differently. Karl Higginbotham's delightful cross from the right five minutes into the second phase resulted in Scott Robinson's header only just finding the target, a reminder that, despite their dominance, Aberdeen were not safe, at least not until the 57th minute.

It was then that Lee Ashcroft's trip on Flood in the area brought a penalty kick for the home side, converted by Adam Rooney as the small band of visiting supporters waited and wondered if their side could keep the scoreline at a respectable tally.

"Jamie had too many saves to make in the first half," Locke said of his goalkeeper. "I brought him to the club because he's a good goalkeeper and he kept us in the game. We were against a good side, Aberdeen have a lot of quality and they create changes against you.

"I think Aberdeen will finish second again, they are a cracking side with a lot of good players.

"We knew it would be a tough start, with Aberdeen at Pittodrie and then Celtic in the midweek. But we have to show confidence in ourselves and try to get the win we need. It was a difficult day coming off the back of last week's result.

"We set up to make ourselves a bit more solid but lost a goal before half-time. I was disappointed we didn't get more bodies up to support Boydy. We need to be sharper in the final third but I think we looked better when Greg Kiltie came on."

The Kilmarnock players welcome the champions to Rugby Park on Wednesday night but will have to be a mite more able if they are not to be on the end of another one-sided affair.