Kilmarnock boss hails match-winner Brad Lyons' professionalism after tough week
Kettlewell said: 'Brad's had a turbulent four or five days but he's come back in really, really focused to try and have an impact on the game, which he has done, he's had a big say on it.
'That probably makes it feel all the bit sweeter for him and his family, just to be able to sit in the house and enjoy the win but also the new arrival as well.
'So we're delighted for him as a football club but Brad's always known that as soon as the baby's here safe, that he moves on to his job, and credit to him, he's been first class in that.'
Kettlewell felt his side only played in 'fits and starts' but they made a flying start to the game when Ben Brannan's long diagonal ball played in Marcus Dackers to open the scoring.
'It's just brilliant vision,' Kettlewell said of the 18-year-old's assist. 'You talk about being tactical geniuses and all the rest of it, it's nothing to do with that, it's about your players understanding what you've looked at through the week and trying to identify a situation that will materialise, and he has done.
'But what's especially pleasing for me as such a young player in the infancy of his career is to identify it and execute it. He's got such a calm, composed demeanour to him. You just feel as if he's on top of his emotions all the time and that's a brilliant place to be for a young player, as well as being a good player.'
Dackers had been a threat even before his opener and Kettlewell was delighted with the 6ft 7in striker's all-round play.
'We are working hard for him to be good with his movements, be good with his feet, to be able to link the play really well, to be a threat down the side, which he is for his goal,' said Kettlewell, who lost striker Djenairo Daniels to a shoulder problem.
'So it's just trying to help him become that complete striker. He has obvious advantages, which we played to at times, but it's making sure that he's able to do the other aspects of the game which I thought he was outstanding at.'
United manager Jim Goodwin was frustrated with the manner of the goals conceded after seeing set-pieces cost his side against Hearts and Rapid Vienna in the previous seven days.
'The first one, it's just really poor shape behind the ball, distances in the back line far too big,' said Goodwin, who lost striker Max Watters to a hamstring injury. 'One big 60-70 yard diagonal ball over the top and it's a one-on-one.
'And then the second goal, it feels like it's talking about last week all over again. Big loopy ball into the box, unopposed header at the back post and then we're slow to react to the second ball. That's what's undone us.
'The goals that we're conceding at the moment are so avoidable.'
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McInnes has guided his side to four straight wins, scoring 16 goals and conceding one, as they topped their section in qualification from the group stage. It should also be noted Aberdeen haven't won at Tynecastle, I think, since 2017. Alongside the SMISA, it is a real Reds bogey venue. 12.16pm: Of course, the main topic of the press conference at Cormack Park on Friday is to set the scene for Monday's tough Premiership opener at Hearts. Following Friday night's final pre-season friendly against Ipswich Town (3-1 defeat), Jimmy Thelin confirmed striker Ester Sokler was not in his squad due to injury. (However, he also said that about the now-departed Pape Gueye's absence… *eyes emoji*) Will Sokler be confirmed as fit again for the Hearts game, given Aberdeen only have him, Yengi and Peter Ambrose as recognised senior strikers on their books just now? The other fitness question marks going into Friday's presser revolve around Latvia captain and centre-back Kristers Tobers and new left-back Emmanuel Gyamfi, who both missed all of the pre-season games. Thelin's prognosis on their injuries – and the timeline for their return – has been vague so far. Tobers struggled with hamstring complaint, which meant he missed nine games at the tail-end of last term following his big-money January arrival, though he did come on in the Scottish Cup final victory over Celtic. Gyamfi, meanwhile, has still to make his debut after arriving from Schalke 04's B team. Maybe Thelin will give us more clarity today, but I wouldn't expect to see Tobers or Gyamfi at Tynecastle as things stand. 12.08pm: As Gueye leaves Aberdeen, the Dons have been ramping up their bid to sign 21-year-old Serbian striker Marko Lazetic from Italian giants AC Milan. The forward was a Dons target in January, and negotiations have been continuing ever since, The Press and Journal understands. But Milan are proving hard to pin down over Lazetic – who is not in the picture at the San Siro and spent last term on loan with TSC in his homeland. While there have been reports of AC demanding as much as four million euros for the forward, it is understood Dons chiefs expect it will take far less to land their man – who they view as a 'project' player in a summer where they have already signed 26-year-old Australia international striker Kusini Yengi. Will Thelin anything about the Lazetic chase? 12.03pm: Just like that, Gueye's move to Turkey has been confirmed by Aberdeen. 'We wish Pape all the very best with his transfer to Turkey, and we thank him for his contributions during his time at Aberdeen, notably his positive impact in the Scottish Cup final', said Dons boss Jimmy Thelin. 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