Livingston were perhaps better than the score line suggested, but Aberdeen recorded a convincing victory nonetheless, opines Voice reporter Andrew Watson.
It was quite a mild night, considering it being late September.
Though spitting slightly towards the end of the match, it was nothing to impact much upon the pitch and its conditions.
Pittodrie seemed subdued and rather
sparse.
Facing lower league opposition in only round three of the League Cup will do that to attendances, unless of course you’re referring to the Terrible Three in the Championship at the moment.
The Reds started well. Against the run of play, they took an early lead.
Nicky Low fired in a corner, and defender Ashton Taylor met it with a header. What better way to shake off responsibility for that costly error, made against Dundee United, on the opening game of the season?
1-0 Aberdeen just 8 minutes in!
For a lion’s share of the first half the League Cup holders were pinned back. Come the second half, Aberdeen somewhat starved the visitors of meaningful possession in the final third.
However, it was actually surprising, relatively speaking, how end to end the game was. Nothing of note happened, though, and Aberdeen almost struggled to consolidate their lead.
Andrew Considine then came on for Low. That same minute, 61 minutes into the game, Considine was pivotal and instigated a Dons attack.
He found Jonny Hayes; Hayes found David Goodwillie; Goodwillie, easily Aberdeen’s most clever and skilful player, found Adam Rooney with a back heel. Rooney found the net.
2-0 Aberdeen!
Then after 71 minutes Ryan Jack was stretchered off, replaced by Barry Robson, and Cammy Smith came on for Goodwillie.
Only three minutes later Rooney doubled his tally for a brace. He drilled into the bottom left corner and found gold.
3-0 Aberdeen!
Considering the whipping meted out, things were quite quiet. Until the 87th minute, that is. Peter Pawlett to Hayes, Hayes to Rooney. Goal.
4-0 Aberdeen, with Rooney the hat trick hero!
I suppose the score was quite deceiving because Aberdeen were very fortunate to go away from the match with a clean sheet intact. Considering he’s second choice keeper, Scott Brown did well to make saves more akin to that of Dons’ number one, Jamie Langfield.
Final score: 4-0.