The former Clyde midfielder volleyed home in the 14th minute and crossed for Frazer Wright to head a second just before the interval.

Bryson rounded off a convincing win and not even a late Alan Combe own goal could dampen the mood at Rugby Park as Killie moved 12 points ahead of bottom side Gretna.

The Aberdeen fans voiced their displeasure at boss Jimmy Calderwood, who made a number of selection and tactical switches.

Calderwood handed Derek Soutar the goalkeeper's jersey for the first time since September after Jamie Langfield conceded 19 goals in five games - the latest being Thursday's 5-1 UEFA Cup defeat at Bayern Munich.

Lee Mair and Stuart Duff also came in, while Killie brought back David Lilley from suspension and the fit-again Martyn Corrigan.

The hosts took the early initiative but Aberdeen had the first clear chance when Lee Miller set up Darren Mackie, only for Combe to dive low to his right to push his shot wide.

Danny Invincibile missed an equally good chance after a mix-up in the heart of the Dons defence allowed Jamie Hamill's deep cross to reach the unmarked Australian, who pulled his shot wide from 18 yards.

Bryson showed him the way to goal when he fired Killie ahead from 10 yards.

Hamill regained possession with a sliding challenge before feeding Allan Johnston, whose cross from the right was volleyed in off the leg of Soutar by the summer signing.

Calderwood had given Alan Maybury a marking job on Johnston in front of a back three but the former Scotland international was linking up well with strikers Invincibile and Mehdi Taouil as the hosts dominated.

The Dons boss made a change in the 28th minute, bringing on winger Aluko for Josh Walker and moving Maybury to a more orthodox right-back role.

They improved slightly with Miller heading against Mackie from Aluko's cross and Severin having a powerful shot well-blocked by Hamill.

But Killie remained on top and Frazer Wright headed them two up five minutes before the interval.

Soutar acrobatically pushed away Hamill's 12-yard strike after initially struggling to deal with Bryson's corner from the right. But Bryson returned the ball into the six-yard box for Wright to head home.

Maybury made way for Chris Maguire at half-time and Calderwood switched several more players' positions.

Right-back Hamill fired wide from 20 yards after a surging run, but Mair should have pulled one back when he headed over from six yards following Barry Nicholson's corner.

Killie broke and Johnston was put through by Taouil, but his shot was diverted wide as Soutar and the Dons defence closed him down.

Maguire's 20-yard volley was comfortably saved by Combe but Aberdeen were struggling to carve out chances despite pushing more men forward.

Calderwood brought on Jeffrey de Visscher for Miller to jeers from the Aberdeen support, who sang the name of unused substitute Steve Lovell and aimed chants of "You don't know what you're doing" at the Aberdeen boss.

And Bryson darkened their mood further in the 75th minute when he directed Invincibile's pass across the six-yard box into the roof of the net.

Combe smothered Foster's long-range strike but Killie were still creating the better chances and Invincibile sliced wide from 15 yards.

Jim Jefferies handed Paul Dalglish his debut off the bench before Combe fumbled de Visscher's cross into the net under pressure from Mackie four minutes from time.