LIVINGSTON 0 ABERDEEN 1 Sunday 30 November 2025 William Hill Premiership Home of the Set Fare Arena Attendance: 3584 (2181 away fans) Referee: Don Robertson
It was all the 1s for Nicky Devlin at Almondvale, his 11th goal for Aberdeen in his 111thgame for the club securing a 1-0 win against his old team.
Back in action after Thursday’s 1-1 draw with FC Noah, Aberdeen made four changes to the side. Dante Polvara, Alexander Jensen, Topi Keskinen and Kevin Nisbet all started from the bench to be replaced by Graeme Shinnie, Sivert Heltne Nilsen, Stuart Armstrong and Marko Lazetic.
Livingston lost 2-1 at Ibrox last weekend, and they made just one change to the team with Lewis Smith replacing Mo Sylla.
It was an end to end opening to the game, neither side quite finding the final ball to set up an early chance. Stevie May had the first shot in anger in the ninth minute, running onto Tete Yengi’s flick on from a long ball out from Prior. He got himself into the area but pulled his shot across goal well wide of the far post.
Five minutes later, Wilson got on the end of May’s free-kick from the left touchline but glanced his header wide of goal as the home side started to grow in confidence. Another May free-kick forced Heltne Nilsen to clear the ball over his own bar on 18 as Aberdeen were forced to try and weather the storm.
Dimitar Mitov was at full stretch to tip away a low Smith cross that looked destined for a Yengi tap-in on 20 minutes as Aberdeen struggled to get out of their own half.
Jesper Karlsson manufactured Aberdeen’s first shot in the 22nd minute, drifting across the pitch from the left. His 20 yarder was deflected just wide of the post.
Another May free-kick from the left touchline gave Finlayson a free header from seven yards out in the 27th minute, but thankfully, he glanced his effort wide of the target.
Yet another May free-kick caused more chaos on the half hour. Some 26 yards out, to the left of the D, he got the ball past the wall, forcing Mitov to get across to his right to make a good low save as Livi continued to hammer on the door.
Livi were on the attack down the right in the 37th minute, Lawal feeding Pittman, and Heltne Nilsen did well to come across and deflect his shot behind. From the corner, Susoho hooked a shot way over the bar.
Better from Aberdeen on 39, Aouchiche producing some real quality to get into a crossing position. Karlsson took it down well but sliced well wide. From the goal kick, Livi gave possession away to Aouchiche, but he blazed his shot over the bar from 20 yards.
HALF-TIME: LIVINGSTON 0 ABERDEEN 0
Tait started the second half by getting booked for a foul on Karlsson after 48 minutes. Five minutes later, Lawal cut inside from the left and tried to bend the ball into the far corner, but he put the ball high and wide of the target.
A clipped cross from Armstrong found Lazetic in the 56th minute, but he couldn’t time his header properly and the chance was gone. Shinnie went in the book a minute later for a block on Smith.
A good pass from Smith meant Yengi was given room to try a shot from inside the D on the hour, but he didn’t get enough on it and Mitov was down to his left to make a comfortable save. A moment later, Jack Milne had to make an important block at the near post to defend a dangerous ball in from Lawal.
Aberdeen were on the counter-attack on 62, Dylan Lobban crossing for Armstrong but his header across goal dribbled wide of the target. A double change from the Dons followed with Nisbet and Polvara replacing Lazetic and Heltne Nilsen.
The Dons were improving in the second half and on 71, Karlsson produced another run inside similar to the first half, putting a thumping shot wide of the goal from 20 yards out.
Livi made a double change of their own after 73 minutes, Lawal and Smith making way for Carey and Brenet. Armstrong had a great chance on 76. Aouchiche won the ball in midfield and the ball was farmed out to Lobban. His low cross came in but Armstrong’s low first time effort was well held by Prior.
A flurry of substitutions followed on 77, Aouchiche, Armstrong, Karlsson replaced by Clarkson, Keskinen and Milanovic, while for the hosts, May made way for Bokila.
Milanovic had the best effort of the game within a minute, a knock down sitting up nicely for him to hit on the volley, Prior away to his left to parry the ball behind. The Dons’ corner was half cleared but Aberdeen kept Livingston penned in, Shinnie chasing a lost cause to keep the ball in from Mats Knoester’s pass under pressure from Carey. Shinnie played it back to Keskinen who dinked the ball to the back stick where Nicky Devlin was on hand to direct a header back across goal and into the far corner to give the Dons an 80th minute lead. A lengthy VAR check for offside ensued, but the goal stood.
Muirhead came on for Tait in the 85th minute in Livi’s last swap.
A weak header back from Knoester was never getting back to Mitov, Devlin coming across to clear, colliding heavily with Muirhead as he did so and needing lengthy treatment after 86 minutes.
Keskinen had a chance to seal the win on 94, collecting the ball 25 yards out and trying to curl the ball around Prior, but the Livi keeper was equal to it. The goal wasn’t needed, Aberdeen coming home with the three points.
Livingston: Prior, Smith (Carey 73), Finlayson, Wilson, Lawal (Brenet 73), Tait (Muirhead 85), Pittman, Susoho, Montano, Yengi, May (Bokila 77).
Subs not used: Hamilton, McGowan, Shinnie, Winter, McLennan.
Booked: Tait
Aberdeen: Mitov, Lobban, Devlin, Knoester, Milne, Shinnie, Heltne Nilsen (Polvara 65), Aouchiche (Clarkson 77), Karlsson (Milanovic 77), Armstrong (Keskinen 77), Lazetic (Nisbet 65).
Subs not used: Suman, Molloy, Kjartansson, Jensen.
Goal: Devlin (80)
Booked: Shinnie
