Starlet Anderson halts meek Lions
ABERDEEN
Mclennan 13, Anderson 81
LIVINGSTON
Dykes 86
2
Goals from Aberdeen youth academy graduates Connor Mclennan and Bruce Anderson ended Livingston’s stubborn resistance as well as the West Lothian side’s five-game unbeaten record.
If the result wasn’t frustrating enough for Gary Holt, the manner in which they surrendered them on an afternoon when the Dons’ prolific marksman Sam Cosgrove started a two-game suspension made it much worse.
The first came from a slick attacking move involving Niall Mcginn, Ryan Hedges and Lewis Ferguson, who carved up their opponents’ defence like a Christmas turkey in 13 minutes.
Mclennan, starting his first game since the ignominy of being substituted at half-time in Aberdeen’s 4-0 thumping from Celtic in October, struck a shot that took a deflection off a defender on its way in.
Then after a long day when
Curtis Main worked hard as a direct replacement for Cosgrove without looking like adding to his solitary goal since signing from Motherwell last summer, it was substitute Anderson who showed the way.
The 21-year-old, who has scored 20 goals himself this season for the development side, sped on to Main’s flick to finish in style, although more poor defending contributed to that effort nine minutes from time.
It almost felt like adding insult to injury when Lyndon Dykes headed his 10th of the season near the end as they had looked devoid of real threat up until that point despite seeing a lot of the ball.
Perhaps that explains why Livingston end 2019 with just one away win in the league to their credit and Holt is looking for better at both ends of the park as they aim to deflate Edinburgh derby winners Hibernian who visit on Sunday.
“Disappointed is one word for it, frustration is another,” said Holt afterwards. “Aberdeen are a good side but individual mistakes cost us. It was a sore one to take.
“I have told them we have to take responsibility for the ugly side of the game. If you look at their backline, Lyndon Dykes never got a free-kick. They defended well. We had to score a world-class goal.
“But my keeper has not had asavetomakeinthegame except picking the ball out of the back of the net twice – and that’s unacceptable.
“I want my team to be a bit braver and make things happen. It’s not like I’m asking them to do Cruyff turns in the box. If it doesn’t work I don’t care but I do want them to try and make it happen.”
By contrast Aberdeen assistant manager Tony Docherty was pleased to see two home-grown youngsters on the scoresheet as they prepare to head to Tynecastle at the weekend.
He said: “It was pleasing from the club’s point of view that two academy graduates got the goals today.
“Bruce is a fantastic finisher. He bangs in the goals in the reserves and he showed his goal threat again.”