Leigh Hinds scored his first goal for Aberdeen to settle a drab encounter
against Livingston at Pittodrie.
The former Clyde midfielder struck in the 25th minute in a disappointing
game.
But Livi's misery was compounded when striker Barry Wilson was dismissed for
raising his hands to Dons defender Phil McGuire in the 72nd minute.
Aberdeen created the first chance after only eight minutes when Michael Hart
broke down their right flank and played the ball into the path of Hinds.
He was unmarked inside the area but seemed to think he had more time than he
did and hesitated, allowing Livi to clear.
The Dons had a strong penalty claim waved away by referee John Underhill when
Julian Maidana appeared to bundle over Derek Young in the box.
But this spurred Aberdeen into life and they took the lead four minutes later
through Hinds.
He picked up a pass from Chris Clark inside the 18-yard box and coolly fired
the ball through Alan Main's legs into the net.
Livingston almost snatched an equaliser in spectacular fashion on the
half-hour mark when Rolando Zarate hit a powerful free-kick from 35 yards.
The forward's shot had goalkeeper Peter Kjaer well beaten but Aberdeen were
saved by the woodwork.
The game was stopped in the 58th minute following a sickening clash of heads
between McGuire and David McNamee.
Both players required treatment from the physios and were initially deemed fit
to continue, but the Livi man soon felt the effects of the knock and was
replaced by Francisco Quino.
But the game exploded into life in the 72nd minute when Wilson was ordered off
for his part in an ugly clash with McGuire.
The Livi man went down under a challenge from Eric Deloumeaux inside the area
and then took exception to McGuire's accusations that he had dived.
Both players exchanged words but Wilson raised his hand and pushed the Dons'
defender in the face leaving referee Underhill no option but to issue him with a
straight red card. McGuire was also booked for his part in the fracas.
Aberdeen had enjoyed the lion's share of possession in the second half and
should have wrapped the game up with 10 minutes remaining when Steve Tosh
spotted Main off his line and attempted an audacious chip from 20 yards.
The Livingston goalkeeper was well beaten by his former team-mate's effort,
but the ball caught the swirling Pittodrie wind and pulled wide of the
right-hand post.
Teams:
Aberdeen: Kjaer, Deloumeaux, Anderson, McGuire, Hart, Tosh,
Tiernan, Sheerin, Clark (McNaughton 84), Hinds (D'Jaffo 84),
Derek Young (Michie 79).
Subs Not Used: Preece, Darren Young.
Booked: McGuire, Derek Young.
Goals: Hinds 25.
Livingston: Main, McNamee (Quino 62), Andrews, Maidana,
Camacho, Wilson, Lovell, Makel (Bingham 67), O'Brien, Zarate,
Pasquinelli (Dadi 76).
Subs Not Used: McEwan, Toure-Maman.
Sent Off: Wilson (72).
Booked: Pasquinelli, Bingham.
Att: 8,912
Ref: J Underhill (Scotland).
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