David Martindale’s face spoke volumes after Finnish-born midfielder, Topi Keskinen, picked up the ball on the left wing inside Livingston’s half. He cut inside and shot home to net Aberdeen’s fifth goal in a convincing victory over the bottom-markers in the William Hill Premiership at Pittodrie.
Keskinen added a sixth half-way into second-half injury time, robbing Joshua Brenet on the left and striding forward, outstripping two men, then slipping Livi skipper, Ryan McGowan, before calmly slotting the ball past goalkeeper Jerome Prior.
It was great to watch for home fans in the near 18,000 crowd and another blow for Livingston’s outspoken manager who could only sit back and contemplate the club’s failure to win a game in a nightmare run now stretching to 23 games in call competitions. He was banished from the dugout after 63 minutes.
Marvin Bartley, one of his first-team coaching staff, was left to call the shots in the dugout, but this was a crushing defeat made worse by the fact that The Lions led 2-1 after 31 minutes, Mo Susoho scoring after 29 minutes and Robbie Muirhead three minutes later to stun home fans.
Kenan Bilalovic had opened the scoring for The Dons after nine minutes but it all fell apart after ex-Hibs striker, Kevin Nisbet, popped in two counters, four and eight minutes into first-half injury time, to nudge Aberdeen 3-2 ahead on a heavy pitch in driving rain and a gusty wind.
Tempers flared and young Dons defender, Jack Milne, and Livingston substitute, Jeremy Bokila, who had only been on three minutes, replacing Muirhead, were both shown red cards by referee Ross Hardie after 68 minutes followinbg a shoving match on half-way.
Aberdeen skipper, Graeme Shinnie, was also booked, the midfielder ripping off his captain’s armband in frustration.
The home side capitalised. Heltne Nilsen added a fourth after 75 minutes, beating Daniel Finlayson in the air and nudging the ball home at the back post seconds after coming on as a substitute, and Keskinen did the rest after 85 and 92 minutes.
Aberdeen had the luxury of being able to take Nisbet off. He was given a standing ovation by home fans and he was replaced by new signing Toyosi Olusanya who made his debut.
The only good news for Martindale (pictured) and he men came from Fir Park where second-bottom Kilmarnock were thrashed 4-0. The Dundee United v St Mirren game was postponed leaving Livingston bottom on 11 points with Killie in No 11 spot with 14 and both having played 23 games. St Mirren are tenth on 19 points but from 22 fixtures.
