It was the dream start for Derek McInnes in Dumfries as his side bagged a comfortable 2-0 win away to Queen of the South.
Kilmarnock closed in on top of the league Arbroath thanks to goals from Chris Stokes and Oli Shaw either side of half time.
Killie were handed a favour by Ayrshire rivals Ayr United who defeated Dick Campbell's Lichties at Somerset Park.
It means that Derek McInnes's side can head top of the table with a win away to Partick Thistle on Friday night.
Shaw went close in the second minute as he fired a venomous volley towards goal, but it flew over the crossbar.
And just a minute later Stokes had a chance as he won a header from a corner, but his effort went into the ground and bounced over.
Josh Todd tried his luck for the hosts in the 11th minute with a fine volley, but much like Shaw’s effort it flew over the crossbar.
And Todd had another volley effort in the 27th minute, but it creeped just past the post and out much to Zach Hemming’s relief.
A crazy passage of play in the 33rd minute left Killie bemused that the ball didn’t hit the back of the net, Rory McKenzie first saw his shot cleared off the line before a Chris Burke rebound was incredibly also stopped on the line.
Finally Killie broke through just before half time when skipper Stokes headed home after Shaw hit the post.
Killie doubled the lead in the 70th minute after being awarded a dubious penalty, but Shaw made no mistake as he sent Josh Rae the wrong way.
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