Aberdeen have announced that they are to appeal the decision to send off Jamie Langfield on Saturday.

The statement appeared on the club's official website yesterday and amounts to just one sentence, presumably as the Pittodrie side do not feel their decision will invite much debate.

Indeed, the action was being predicted before the goalkeeper had even made it to the tunnel at Pittodrie, having been sent off for bringing down Borja Perez. The goal which followed was just as easy to call.

There was little contention over the assuredness of Liam Kelly's penalty, nor that referee Craig Charleston had pointed to the spot in the first place. There was a consensus the red card that was flashed in the face of Langfield was unwarranted, though, with Perez among those to later question the decision.

"I thought it was a penalty, though maybe not a red card for the goalkeeper," said the Kilmarnock forward. "I felt his hands touch my feet as I went through. I certainly did not dive, but maybe he should not have been sent off."

Kilmarnock should maybe not have made such heavy going of their victory, either. Jason Brown took his place in goal after Aberdeen were reduced to 10 men but was seldom troubled – save for the penalty and another calm finish from Kelly late on – and the hosts might even had embellished the scoreline themselves, Josh Magennis hitting the crossbar with a shot from range. Niall McGinn also went close with a free-kick.

These were threatening moments that belied Aberdeen's disadvantage, and their ability to remain effective despite being a man down left Scott Vernon disappointed to have been left with nothing to show for their efforts.

"We expected more of ourselves in terms of creativity in the final third," said the Aberdeen striker, deployed in midfield because of a raft of injuries.

"As for the penalty incident, I thought Perez's touch might have taken the ball out of play, and there were defenders behind Langers as well. So, going by the rule then he shouldn't have been sent off."

Kenny Shiels might well have had a good view of the incident as he served the first match of his touchline ban but his absence from the dug out did not seem to perturb his players. "We always seem to win when he's not there," said Perez with a smile.