Goals from Kevin McNaughton and Noel Whelan were enough to give Aberdeen a well-deserved victory over the Bank of Scotland Premier League's bottom club Livingston and turn up the pressure on beleaguered Lions boss Richard Gough.

The Dons, who halted a mid-season slump with their first win in nine games, did not have to be at their best to sweep aside a dreadful Livingston side, who, on this showing at least, clearly lack the stomach for a relegation fight.

Gough's position has already been put under threat, despite only joining the club three months ago, and prospective owner Pearse Flynn will have more thinking to do after yet another insipid display.

For Aberdeen the three points gained from this weekend keeps them in the hunt for third place and its UEFA Cup spot, but they will have to improve much more if they are to catch Hibs.

The opening exchanges were characterised by sloppy passing from both sides, which led to little in the way of goalmouth action. In mitigation, the Pittodrie pitch - which has been torn up by a combination of too many games and an insect infestation - was not conducive to flowing football.

When the Dons finally did get a clear sight of goal, McNaughton, who had been pushed into a midfield role, was quick to try his luck from 25 yards out but Colin Meldrum dropped to his left and smothered the ball with ease.

The former Kilmarnock goalkeeper was helpless minutes later when Scott Morrison's effort from distance wormed its way through a throng of bodies towards the back post. It appeared destined for the net until Burton O'Brien, who is reportedly a summer target for Aberdeen, popped up to boot clear off the line.

Livi were dealt a blow in the 20th minute when Richard Brittain was carried off injured. The midfielder appeared to go over on his ankle and immediately crumpled to the turf in agony before being replaced by Stephen Adam.

The West Lothian men had offered precious little in the way of attack but almost got a slice of huge fortune when Ryan Esson made a monumental error of judgement. He raced off his line to meet a through-ball with his head, but only succeeded in passing towards Ferenc Horvath.

The Hungarian had the perfect opportunity to pass the ball into the net, but rushed his effort and sent it well wide of the post.

McNaughton opened the scoring with a wonderful goal from the right-hand side. The Scotland squad member bolted down the flank, gaining ground as the Lions' defence backed off, before cutting inside to find a shooting angle.

Livi continued to afford him space and he needed no second invitation to bend a low shot round Greg Strong and into the far corner.

The second half started very slowly, with much huffing and puffing from both sides, but Aberdeen rose above the mediocrity in the 59th minute with their second goal of the afternoon and Whelan's second of the season.

He was guilty of two glaring misses against Inverness in their last home match and was clearly desperate to make amends in front of his own fans. Darren Mackie drew to the right and sent a hanging cross into the six-yard box which afforded the Englishman time to run up and leap above Strong to slam the ball beyond Meldrum.

Gough, sensing that his team's SPL status and possibly his career as a top-flight manager is slipping away from him, made a final change to his team in a bid to inject some life into his weary troops.

Having been forced to bring on Goran Stanic for the injured Gustave Bahoken towards the end of the first half, his options were limited and he gambled on swapping Colin McMenamin for on-loan Watford midfielder Jamie Hand.

Horvath shocked everyone, including his own team-mates, by producing a spectacular overhead kick to meet Derek Lilley's cross. His effort, which was only Livingston's third of the afternoon, rebounded off the crossbar much to the relief of Esson.

Teams

Aberdeen Esson, Hart, Anderson, Diamond, Morrison (Byrne 70), Stewart, Heikkinen, Winter (Clark 70), McNaughton, Whelan (Foster 83), Mackie.

Subs Not Used: Blanchard, Craig, Adams.

Goals: McNaughton 45, Whelan 59.

Livingston Meldrum, McNamee, Strong, Deloumeaux, Bahoken (Stanic 36), Mark Wilson, Brittain (Adam 21), Hand (McMenamin 70), O'Brien, Lilley, Horvath.

Subs Not Used: McKenzie, Rubio, Easton, McPake.

Att: 9,214

Ref: J Rowbotham (Scotland).