Dons leave it late but title race is wide open
LIVINGSTON 1 Aberdeen 2
Aberdeen manager Derek Mcinnes was left frustrated as the Dons lost yet another key player to injury in a hard-fight victory over Livingston, placing the Pittodrie outfit three points off the top of the table entering the winter break.
Shay Logan hobbled off in the first half leaving his manager to question the logic of scheduling so many matches before Christmas.
“I have been concerned about the nine games in December,” Mcinnes stated.
“The eight league games in 24 days. It is really unfair on everyone at our club.
“We have picked up muscle injuries to Anderson, Hogan, Mcginn and Max Lowe. It is all down to scheduling. That’s all that is.
“It’s fatigue that makes players more susceptible to injuries.”
“We are having to try to deal with that when we don’t have the numbers Celtic and Rangers have and I do think the scheduling was pretty harsh on us. I think we could have easily pushed one of those games back.”
Mcinnes was forced to tweak his line up with Max Lowe unable to complete his loan spell at the Dons due to injury so the manager shifted to a back three and thrusting three strikers into the fold, with Bruce Anderson up front.
Gary Holt countered with three men as his own bridgehead in attack, setting up what was to be a very rigid encounter.
Only the supernatural seemed to keep the score sheet blank after 25 minutes as a Craig Halkett header from close range was all but guaranteed to strike pay dirt.
But Joe Lewis is not one of the best keepers in the division for nothing.
The big Englishman was able to conjure a large paw to swipe the ball in mid-air much to the disbelief of the home support.
Logan limped off on the halfhour mark to be replaced by Stephen Gleeson, throwing the visitor’s tactics into disarray, with Dominic Ball vacating his slot in midfield to take up position as a proxy centre half.
The second half thankfully offered more in the way of entertainment and superb skill from Connor Mclennan on the right flank who set up Stevie May at the near post. The winger juked Nicky Cadden out of his boots before finding the striker but May could not find the target with his effort.
Bruce Anderson crumpled to the ground in agony in the 60th minute to be replaced by James Wilson and this change inadvertently worked to the benefit of the Pittodrie club.
Stephen Gleeson teed up a wayward shot on the 70th minute and a cross-box run by Wilson paid dividends as the striker diverted the path of the shot into the bottom corner for the opening goal.
The pace of Wilson should have killed the game with five minutes remaining as the striker outpaced Alan Lithgow down the right flank before firing in a low cross.
Steven Lawson had matched Dean Campbell stride for stride but the unlucky defender could only turn the ball into his own net while trying to make a lastditch tackle.
The Lions were not done and pulled a goal back almost instantly, allowing Ryan Hardie to prod home a late consolation effort.
Livingston manager Gary Holt said: “Aberdeen are a good side – probably an exceptional side.”
“We went toe-to-toe with them. The three goals were pretty scrappy and pretty poor, and we lost out today. We have to be more streetwise – to take a booking, to take a foul.”
LIVINGSTON: (3-4-3): L Kelly 6, L Miller 4 (N Cadden 37 4), A Lithgow 6, C Halkett 7, D Gallagher 7, S Byrne 7, S Pittman 6, S Lawless 5 (S Lawson 77), C Sibbald 6, R Hardie 6, D Menga 5 (J Hamilton 72)
Aberdeen:
(3-4-3 ): J Lewis 8, S Logan 4 (s Gleeson 30 5), D Ball 6, A Considine 5, S Mckenna
Wright 6 (D Campbell 78), C Mclennan 9, B Anderson 5 (J Wilson 60), S May 7, S Cosgrove 6. 8, G Shinnie 7, S
MATCH STATS
looks to be a star in the making – fleet of foot, direct and always a thorn in the side of Livingston.
CONNOR MCLENNAN