Aberdeen 2 - 1 Livingston

After getting the first win of the season in the gruelling 1-0 win at St Johnstone on Thursday night, Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes made five changes to his starting XI, handing out a debut to new loan signing Marley Watkins, also drafting in Shay Logan, Scott McKenna, Matty Kennedy and the goalscorer from Thursday night, Ryan Hedges. Funso Ojo, Ronald Hernández and Tommie Hoban started on the bench with Niall McGinn and Dean Campbell both out of the 18 altogether. Curtis Main and Bruce Anderson returned to the matchday squad on the eight man bench.

Livingston's form has improved of late, drawing at Motherwell and at home to Rangers after defeats to St Mirren and Hibs in their first two games. Manager Gary Holt made two changes from that 0-0 with Rangers, Ross McCrorie's twin brother Robby replacing Max Stryjek in goal and Scott Robinson coming in for Jack Hamilton, both of them dropping to their eight man bench.

Logan was in early action with a well timed challenge on Forrest in the Aberdeen box after seven minutes from a quick break through the middle. Jonny Hayes wasn't very far away in the 12th minute following good work from Scott Wright and Watkins. Hitting the ball from the left edge of the area, it took a deflection off Devlin and looped just wide of goal.

The game became pretty scrappy from there until the half hour mark, when Kennedy darted away down the left before spearing in a low cross. Ferguson met it on the penalty spot but couldn't get a clean connection on the turn and McCrorie saved easily.

Livi should have had the lead in the 33rd minute when Kennedy was dispossessed on the edge of his box. Devlin played it in to Robinson, Joe Lewis staying big to a make a crucial save with his left leg, the ball rebounding to Sibbald whose drive at goal was blocked wide of goal by Kennedy.

It was the start of a good spell from the visitors who started to pin Aberdeen back, but Sibbald took the first yellow card of the game after clattering Ferguson in the 43rd minute. Devlin joined him in the book 30 seconds later after hacking down Kennedy on the run down the left in pretty much the last action of a disappointing half.

HALF-TIME: ABERDEEN 0 LIVINGSTON 0

There was one change for Aberdeen at the break, Funso Ojo replacing McKenna, McCrorie dropping in to centre-half.

The Dons opened more brightly and were rewarded in the 48th minute when a move that began with Ash Taylor bringing the ball out from the back, ending when Ferguson was clipped in the box by Sibbald to concede a penalty. Ferguson stepped up and rifled the spot kick into the roof of the net.

Livingston responded immediately with a corner that Aberdeen eventually scrambled clear, but it was a reminder of the threat posed by the opposition.

The Dons made it 2-0 with a terrific goal in the 55th minute, Hedges bringing the ball inside, playing a lovely combination with Wright, Hedges getting the ball back from him before slotting Wright back in to produce a fine finish to double the lead. Just past the hour, McGeouch came on for his first appearance of the season in place of Wright.

It should have been three in the 67th minute, Watkins getting in behind from an Ojo pass, only to be denied by a fine save from McCrorie, similar to Lewis' in the first half. Aberdeen recycled the ball well and Hayes' cross picked out Watkins at the back post, his diving header clawed away by an even better save.

Livi dragged themselves back into the game in the 69th minute, Fitzwater doing well down the right to win the ball from Kennedy and then cross for Pittman to poke past Lewis from inside the six yard box, though Fitzwater came close to taking the ball out of play before crossing.

An immediate triple substitution from Livingston saw Fitzwater, Sibbald and McMillan replaced by Ambrose, Serrano and Hamilton.

Hayes fired just over from the edge of the box in the 75th minute as the Dons looked to reassert control of the game, Livi then bringing off Forrest for Tiffoney a minute later. McLennan and Main were the next Aberdeen subs, replacing Watkins and Hedges in the 81st minute, the number of changes making the game rather disjointed for a period.

Livi had claims for a penalty in the 86th minute as the Dons desperately tried to scramble the ball clear of their six yard box, the referee waving them away as Aberdeen hearts were in mouths for a second. A minute later, Serrano absolutely clobbered Logan yet didn't even receive a word from the referee for a dreadful challenge worthy of at least a yellow card, if not more. Aberdeen took the opportunity to bring on Hoban for Kennedy as Logan took some treatment from the physio as we headed into five minutes of added time.

In the third of them, Hamilton got a sight of goal as Livi fizzed in a ball from the left but fortunately, he couldn't quite get his angles right and stabbed the ball just wide of the post. That though was that, Aberdeen making it six points out of six in a big few days for the club.