Impressive Aberdeen tied up a UEFA Cup place with a surprisingly easy win over nearest Scottish Premier League challengers Livingston.

The home side raced into a three goal half-time lead from which the stunned West Lothian side never recovered.

The second half saw the Dons firmly in control and in the end the winning margin could have been greater.

Consolation for the visitors, whose good season has fizzled out disappointingly in recent weeks, is that they still have a chance of European football.

But they will have to find their form as quickly as possible in the last two league games.

It was 'Danish day' at Pittodrie as the large home crowd turned up in Viking hats and waving Danish flags in tribute to their manager Ebbe Skovdahl and keeper Peter Kjaer.

The fans' gesture obviously inspired the Dons who raced into an early two-goal lead, the first coming in the seventh minute after a lucky break in front of goal

Darren Mackie raced down the right and swung his cross into the Livi six yard box.

Keeper Javier Broto appeared to have it covered but only succeeded in punching the ball into defender Marvin Andrews.

When the ball broke to Leon Mike the Dons striker had the easiest of tasks to score from inside the six yard box.

Three minutes later, with the visitors still shocked, Aberdeen doubled their lead.

A Robbie Winters free-kick was headed towards goal by Mackie and, although Broto pulled off a good save, Philip McGuire was on hand to blast the ball into the corner of the net.

The Dons then had a good penalty claim turned down moments later when Mackie was sandwiched between Andrews and Philippe Brinquin, but referee Douglas McDonald opted to give the corner.

Andrews recovered from his earlier mishap and looked solid in defence, repelling the Dons threat.

On the half hour he had to clear off the line after Broto had failed to cut out a Kevin McNaughton cross which was then guided towards goal by Robbie Winters.

Moments later David Fernandez had the ball in the net for the visitors after he followed up a Lee Makel shot but was controversially ruled offside.

But in the 37th minute Aberdeen scored a third when a Winters through ball fell kindly to Mackie racing in on goal.

The youngster held off Livi defender Oscar Rubio all too easily then hammered the ball past Broto from 15 yards.

The visitors needed a quick goal after the break if they were to have any chance of rescuing anything from the game and brought on David Bingham for Stevie Tosh to give them three forwards.

Bingham nearly made an immediate impact after only two minutes of the restart when he clipped a 20-yard free-kick off Kjaer's left hand post.

The Danish keeper, who had almost nothing to do in the first 45 minutes, was rooted to the spot and gladly watched the ball eventually being cleared to safety.

Livingston still could not make an impact on the Dons goal and as the second half wore on it was the home side who looked to improve on their lead, and Winters was guilty of missing a couple of decent chances.

In the 58th minute Dons defender McNaughton crossed into the box and Andrews' poor defensive header, under no real pressure, fell to Mackie inside the box.

Despite having plenty of time the youngster snatched at his angled shot and it hit the side netting.

As the game threatened to boil over at times frustrated Livingston manager Jim Leishman was warned by referee McDonald.

Teams

Aberdeen Kjaer, McNaughton, McGuire, Anderson, McAllister, Derek Young, Bisconti, Darren Young (Dadi 85), Winters, Mackie (Clark 88), Mike (Tiernan 76).

Subs Not Used: Peat, Rutkiewicz.

Goals: Mike 8, McGuire 12, Mackie 39.

Livingston Broto, Brinquin, Rubio, Andrews, Santini, Tosh (Bingham 45), Makel, Lovell (Jokovic 75), Quino, Wilson (Hart 75), Fernandez.

Subs Not Used: McEwan, Caputo.

Booked: Fernandez, Rubio.

Att: 14,109

Ref: D McDonald (Scotland).