Aberdeen 0 - 3 Livingston

Aberdeen suffered a heavy defeat at Pittodrie today after dominating the opening half. The Dons lost the first goal to a super strike as the first period drifted into injury time. A couple of defensive lapses in the opening 25 minutes of the second half sealed the Reds' fate. The Dons plugged away after this, but despite hitting the woodwork and creating a barrel-load of chances the Livingston rearguard could not be breached, leaving the Dons to rue a string of missed opportunities.

Both teams made a positive start to the match and in the 2nd minute Leigh Hinds broke on the left and found Zdrilic in the centre. Unfortunately the Aussie was unable to turn and the chance was cleared. Two minutes later Aberdeen won the first corner of the match as the Livi defence were forced to scramble a McNaughton cross clear. The resulting set play was easily mopped up. Hinds and Zdrilic combined again in the 7th minute when Zdrilic was well marshalled by Andrews as he rose to head another Hinds delivery.

After a bright start the game settled down with Aberdeen holding the upper hand, but without threatening the Livi defence. Then in the 19th minute the impressive Leigh Hinds went close when he raced to the near post to turn a Muirhead cross inches wide. Two minutes later Hinds looked set to break when he appeared to be tripped. It looked as though referee McDonald was indicating that Hinds was already offside, but it was hard to tell. Zdrilic should have put the Dons in front in the 27th minute when he had two attempts at beating McKenzie in a one-on-one situation. Unfortunately the keeper managed to block both attempts.

Pasquinelli became the first booking of the match for a rash challenge on Russell Anderson after 31 minutes. Three minutes later McNaughton sent in an innocuous looking cross, which McKenzie spilled. Luckily for the keeper there were no Dons players ready to pounce. A well-worked free kick in the 37th minute ended with a rather tame effort from Zdrilic straight at the keeper. Two minutes later Tosh went close as he looked to finish off a fine move. A deep McNaughton cross was headed back across goal by Zdrilic and Tosh hit the ball over from 12 yards. With half-time approaching both Zdrilic and Anderson, with a spectacular diving header, had chances to break the deadlock, but Livi held firm. Then deep in injury time Livingston grabbed the opening goal when Quino hit a sweet strike similar to Tom Cowan's effort against the Dons at Dens last Saturday.

Aberdeen came out with all guns blazing after the late sickener in the opening period. Heikkinen almost levelled in the 48th minute when he beat the offside trap and fired in a fierce shot, which McKenzie did well to turn over the bar. However Makel went close to extending the visitors lead two minutes later when he hit a wicked free kick inches wide of the target. Aberdeen continued to probe and Sheerin hit an effort in the 58th minute that McKenzie held easily.

Disaster befell the Dons in the 65th minute when Livingston extended their lead after winning their first corner of the match. The ball wasn't cleared properly and as it was returned into the danger area Rubio turned it into the net. Five minutes later it was 'Goodnight Vienna' as Pasquinelli took advantage of defensive dithering to make it 3-0. Aberdeen had managed to turn the game round from total control to total disarray in the space of 25 minutes.

Hinds should have pulled one back in the 74th minute, but failed to turn the ball into the net from 2 yards out. He was replaced by Mackie a minute later and the striker almost made an immediate impact when he forced McKenzie into a good save with a well-placed header. Aberdeen plugged away, but it wasn't to be their day. Sheerin hit an effort straight at McKenzie in the 80th minute and four minutes later Hart hit the woodwork. With a minute remaining Tosh miss-hit a shot from three yards out with the goal glaring.