Steve Paterson will have to wait for his first win as Aberdeen manager after
his players served up the kind of performance that led to the departure of Ebbe
Skovdahl earlier this month.
The Dons fans arrived to Pittodrie hoping to see a team invigorated by the
arrival of a new management team but jeered their team on the final whistle as
the Dons continued in the same dismal vein.
Livi will be furious not to have taken all three points after Marvin Andrews`
header from Barry Wilson's high ball looked to have crossed the line minutes
after half-time, but referee Kenny Clark dismissed their protests.
Aberdeen created the first chance of the match after eight minutes, but Derek
Young should have done better.
The Dons captain broke free 25-yards from goal after receiving a Kevin
McNaughton pass from the right flank, stepped forward to the edge of the box and
fired in a low shot. Unfortunately for Aberdeen his effort lacked power and
Javier Broto was able to dive and save.
Livingston should have opened the scoring after 11 minutes when Eugene Dadi
found himself unmarked in the Dons penalty area. He latched onto a Francisco
Quino cross from the right-hand side and attempted to beat David Preece from six
yards.
Referee Kenny Clark was called into action for the first time after 17 minutes
when Eric Deloumeaux lunged at Bingham. The former Motherwell defender appeared
to win the ball, but went in with his studs high and left the referee no option
but to issue him with a yellow card.
Livingston wasted the best opportunity of the first half when Wilson shot wide
after being played in on goal by Quino.
The former Inverness player gathered the ball in acres of space, stepped
forward and shot towards goal. However, his effort lacked direction and it spun
wide.
Livingston were incensed four minutes into the second half when Andrews`
header from Wilson's cross beat Preece and appeared to cross the line.
Darren Young was standing behind the goal line when the ball originally came
in and the ball bounced off him. The ball then appeared to cross the line
further as Young swung wildly at it, but still the linesman refused to raise his
flag and award the goal.
Young then managed to regain his composure and clear the ball upfield. The
Livi players were furious with the officials, but referee Clark waved away their
protests.
Livingston threatened on the 65-minute mark when Wilson found space on the
left hand side and delivered a teasing cross into the area for Dadi.
The Ivory Coast striker showed a decent burst of pace to get into the box, but
was unable to connect as the ball flew past him.
That was to be Dadi's last involvement as he was replaced seconds later by
Davide Xausa, who played under Dons boss Paterson at Inverness.
Leishman made another change at the same time, withdrawing the ineffectual
Rolando Zarate for Colin McMenamin.
Aberdeen created their best chance of the match after 75 minutes, but Scott
Michie was unable to take advantage. He latched onto a through ball from Russell
Anderson and had plenty of space to run at the exposed Broto.
However, Michie struggled to get the ball fully under his control and wasted
the chance when the Livi goalkeeper went to ground and deflected the ball away
from him.
Neither side could emerge on top in the final stages as the game degenerated
into a stuffy battle more reliant on hard work than any level of skill.
Teams:
Aberdeen: Preece, Anderson, McGuire, Rutkiewicz, McNaughton,
Deloumeaux, Darren Young (Tiernan 89), McAllister, Clark,
Derek Young (Mackie 74), D'Jaffo (Michie 55).
Subs Not Used: Esson, Mike.
Booked: Deloumeaux.
Livingston: Broto, Brinquin, Andrews, Bollan, Hart (Rubio 90),
Makel, Quino, Wilson, Bingham, Zarate (McMenamin 65),
Dadi (Xausa 65).
Subs Not Used: McEwan, O'Brien.
Booked: Makel, Wilson.
Att: 11,253
Ref: K Clark (Scotland).
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