Martindale eyeing Europe as win over Dons puts Lions in the hunt
Livingston manager David Martindale believes European qualification has to be a goal for his side after victory at Aberdeen moved them to within five points of their opponents.
An own goal from goalkeeper Joe Lewis and a Nicky Devlin header earned the visitors a 2-0 success and made it 14 games unbeaten for Martindale since he took up the reins.
"If we can keep it going to the end of the season it would be nice," Martindale said when asked how long the run could last. "We spoke as a group collectively on Monday about how not finishing in the top six after getting to a national cup final would be a disappointment. After the split, who knows what can happen. Europe has to be an aspiration.
"I thought we were fairly comfortable in the game. Apart from the one shot off the bar I don't think the goalkeeper had a lot to do.”
Aberdeen boss Derek Mcinnes, who saw his side slip to fourth place, was angered by the failure to award Lewis Ferguson a goal for his effort which came back off the underside of the bar, insisting the ball crossed the line.
"The goal should stand," he said. "I've seen it again but I didn't need to. It was a clear goal.
"The opening goal unnerved us. It was a terrible goal to lose
and the second was just as bad. Half-time couldn't come quick enough.
"Nobodywillgiveusachance against Hibs on Saturday. It'll require a big performance and it's a big game for us."
Fraser Hornby started for Aberdeen with fellow new signing Callum Hendry on the bench as they faced a Livi side they had drawn 0-0 with at the weekend. The visitors initially made four changes to their team from that clash, but
the withdrawal of captain Jon Guthrie in the warm-up forced a fifth one, while Craig Sibbald was also injured and could not take his place on the bench.
Martindale's men rolled with the punches, though, and they took the lead in unusual circumstances. Juan Serrano's shot from an angle on the left looked an easy save for Lewis, but the keeper misjudged the effort and scooped the ball into his own net.
Aberdeen suffered their
own injury misfortune, with winger Ryan Hedges forced off after 12 minutes, and central defender Ash Taylor would follow before the half was out.
Injuries could not be blamed for Livi's second goal, though, as the home defence simply lost track of Devlin, who headed home Josh Mullin's cross from six yards after a corner was only partially cleared.
Hendry came off the bench before the interval, but it was Ferguson who almost
helped find Aberdeen a way back into the match, crashing his half-volley off the underside of the bar early in the second half.
Aberdeen: Lewis, Hoban, Taylor (Campbell 44), Considine, Mclennan (Hendry
44), Mccrorie, Ferguson, Leigh, Hedges (Kennedy 14), Hayes, Hornby (Mcginn 75). Subs not used: Logan, Mcgeouch, Virtanen, Mackenzie, Woods.
Livingston: Stryjek, Ambrose, Taylorsinclair, Longridge, Devlin, Lawson, Holt, Serrano, Mullin (Robinson 81),Pitman, Emmanuel-thomas (Reilly 70). Subs not used: Mccrorie, Bartley, Forrest, Mcmillan, Kabia.
Refeee: Nick Walsh