Two goals before 25 minutes had been played set Aberdeen on their way to victory as they dismantled a Hamilton side devoid of

ideas and unable to threaten their hosts.

The home side's captain Graeme Shinnie’s eighth-minute opener set the tone for this game as he stood unmarked on the edge of the Accies area to accept Niall McGinn’s low corner-kick and, on his second touch, smashed the ball out of the reach of goalkeeper Gary Woods to begin a pattern of slick football from Derek McInnes' men.

By the time James Wilson, on loan from Manchester United, fired in the second for Aberdeen – a stunning 25-yard strike as Hamilton’s mesmerised defence stood off him, almost in admiration – the outcome of this encounter was never in doubt.

The Lanarkshire outfit have managed just one win in their last 14 away league games, a 1-0 win over Motherwell in their first away game of this season, and Martin Canning, their manager, will recognise the need for some much-needed oomph in their ranks.

They had no answer to Aberdeen’s free-flowing and energetic movement and, on the rare occasion they did manage to penetrate the opposing defence, seemed unable to test Joe Lewis, the Pittodrie keeper.

It took just an hour for the Dons to administer the coup de grace and it came from the unlikely source of Mikey Devlin, the former Hamilton centre-back who must have wondered when there might be a challenge to his race towards goal. There wasn’t, and his breath-taking 30-yard strike proved too true and powerful for Woods, his touch unable to prevent the inevitable.

This was all too easy for McInnes’ side. They might have had a fourth, from a sizzling long-range effort by Shay Logan, again

unchallenged, but for the acrobatics of Woods, once more without protection.

But the march forward by the Dons merely kept Accies on the back foot and trying to prevent further goals and to add insult to injury, their captain, Dougie Imrie, booked in the first half, was sent packing for a second yellow following a foul on Shinnie with the final whistle sounding just as he reached the tunnel.

The omens are not good for Canning’s outfit even this early in the campaign. But how often have we heard this as Hamilton battle season after season with the Premiership’s better sides and still retain their top-tier status.

Last night’s show at Pittodrie, however, is still bound to sound alarm bells in South Lanarkshire.