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Jimmy Calderwood (pictured) brings his Aberdeen side to almondvale looking for their first win in three following a defeat to celtic and a home draw to bottom side dunfermline. The dons, yet again, are having a poor start to the season. Currently sitting 8th in the SPL table, the quality of the players they have coupled with probably the best support in scotland, Aberdeen should almost by default be in the top six and challenging for europe.
Livingston too have suffered a poor start to the season but recently have been getting their act together. Ironically, when we have picked up three points, we have not played our best. Against better opposition we have been playing better football such as against Hibs or the last twenty minutes at tynecastle. Although 11th in the table, the players deserve better for the effort they have been putting into games. A hard fought 1-0 win against United bringing a very welcome three points to the 'vale last week.
Form
Surprisingly, we boast the better recent record in all competitions, winning three of our last six games, whereas aberdeen have only won once in the last six.
Head to head
The most recent game, in november at pittodrie, ended 0-0 despite the refs best efforts
. Furthermore, in the head to head, recent games do not bode well for us - the record reads three 2-0 losses and one draw as previously mentioned. You have to look back to April 2004 to clock livi's last win against Aberdeen where we ran out 2-0 winners. Two back-to-back wins against the Dons a month earlier in cup and league brings the overall head-to-head to better reading though. 3 wins for each side and one draw in the last 7.
Livingston too have suffered a poor start to the season but recently have been getting their act together. Ironically, when we have picked up three points, we have not played our best. Against better opposition we have been playing better football such as against Hibs or the last twenty minutes at tynecastle. Although 11th in the table, the players deserve better for the effort they have been putting into games. A hard fought 1-0 win against United bringing a very welcome three points to the 'vale last week.
Form
Surprisingly, we boast the better recent record in all competitions, winning three of our last six games, whereas aberdeen have only won once in the last six.
Head to head
The most recent game, in november at pittodrie, ended 0-0 despite the refs best efforts
. Furthermore, in the head to head, recent games do not bode well for us - the record reads three 2-0 losses and one draw as previously mentioned. You have to look back to April 2004 to clock livi's last win against Aberdeen where we ran out 2-0 winners. Two back-to-back wins against the Dons a month earlier in cup and league brings the overall head-to-head to better reading though. 3 wins for each side and one draw in the last 7.One to watch
Nobody can deny that teenage star Robert Snodgrass has been nothing short of excellent for us. Four cracking goals - including wonder strikes against falkirk and united and a brilliant double against Rangers have, arguably, seen this man responsible for five of our current 11 point total.
The Opposition
Aberdeen front man Stevie Crawford has suffered a fruitless campaign thus far with many fans getting on his back. There is, however, no doubting his ability to put a ball in the back of the net as we've all seen it at club and country level! In defence, stalwart Russell Anderson has been holding the line very well and makes aberdeen petty difficult to pass through. 'Keeper Ryan Esson has been off-form recently and his handling has been called into question. Maybe the Lions best chance of goals will come from set plays?
Team news
The visitors - Steve Lovell is expected to make a return to the dons squad but is doubtfull for a start. Ex-Livi man Michael Hart and former hearts midfielder Scott Severin both remain sidelined. Zander Diamond is fit and will be in the squad for the game.
Livingston will be without Graham Barrett, who extended his loan deal till the end of the season earlier this week, and Derek Adams. Neil Barrett is expected to make a return to the squad following a shoulder injury. While defender David McNamee is no longer injured, it is unlikely he will start as Lambert wants to, understandably, give him a run out or two in the reserves first.
Verdict
Aberdeen always bring a noisy and colourfull support. Livi will have their own wee red and white army at the 'vale on sat in the form of the visiting Feyenoord (and Antwerp) fans who will hopefully be joining the DBM regulars in the Zed Shed.
Apart from the last game, match-ups between the two are usually good encounters and as has been shown, draws are usually not the order of the day. I, personally, am looking for a repeat of the mid-week cup game in 01/02. We want six!
Mon a livi!
History of the Livingston v Aberdeen fixture
Livingston prepare to entertain Aberdeen at Almondvale Stadium on Saturday afternoon, needing to improve on a poor record between the sides. The visitors have won 3 of the 8 previous games, with the Livi winning just 2.
The most recent encounter between these two sides at Almondvale Stadium was just last season, in November 2004, as the visitors ran out cosy 0-2 winners in a Scottish Premier match.
For a detailed analysis of the head-to-head between the two sides, click here
Recent respective form guides
Livingston are not in the best of form at home, with two wins, two draws, and two defeats in their last six. The Livi's have scored 7 goals in these games, but conceded an alarming 9.
Aberdeen have an average recent record on the road, with two wins, two draws, and two defeats. A generous 7 goals have been both scored and conceded in this period.
Livingston are hovering perilously just above the relegation zone, with 11 points from 18 matches. Aberdeen see themselves just below half way in the Bank of Scotland Scottish Premier, showing a record of 22 points from their 18 games played so far,
For a detailed analysis of team form guides throughout the leagues, click here
Ultras Pregiction...
3-1 to the Lions....
The Opposition
Aberdeen front man Stevie Crawford has suffered a fruitless campaign thus far with many fans getting on his back. There is, however, no doubting his ability to put a ball in the back of the net as we've all seen it at club and country level! In defence, stalwart Russell Anderson has been holding the line very well and makes aberdeen petty difficult to pass through. 'Keeper Ryan Esson has been off-form recently and his handling has been called into question. Maybe the Lions best chance of goals will come from set plays?
Team news
The visitors - Steve Lovell is expected to make a return to the dons squad but is doubtfull for a start. Ex-Livi man Michael Hart and former hearts midfielder Scott Severin both remain sidelined. Zander Diamond is fit and will be in the squad for the game.
Livingston will be without Graham Barrett, who extended his loan deal till the end of the season earlier this week, and Derek Adams. Neil Barrett is expected to make a return to the squad following a shoulder injury. While defender David McNamee is no longer injured, it is unlikely he will start as Lambert wants to, understandably, give him a run out or two in the reserves first.
Verdict
Aberdeen always bring a noisy and colourfull support. Livi will have their own wee red and white army at the 'vale on sat in the form of the visiting Feyenoord (and Antwerp) fans who will hopefully be joining the DBM regulars in the Zed Shed.
Apart from the last game, match-ups between the two are usually good encounters and as has been shown, draws are usually not the order of the day. I, personally, am looking for a repeat of the mid-week cup game in 01/02. We want six!
Mon a livi!
History of the Livingston v Aberdeen fixture
Livingston prepare to entertain Aberdeen at Almondvale Stadium on Saturday afternoon, needing to improve on a poor record between the sides. The visitors have won 3 of the 8 previous games, with the Livi winning just 2.
The most recent encounter between these two sides at Almondvale Stadium was just last season, in November 2004, as the visitors ran out cosy 0-2 winners in a Scottish Premier match.
For a detailed analysis of the head-to-head between the two sides, click here
| Recent encounters between the teams: | |||||
| 2005/2006 | Sat 24 Sep | Aberdeen | 0 - 0 | Livingston | SPL |
| 2004/2005 | Sat 19 Feb | Aberdeen | 2 - 0 | Livingston | SPL |
| 2004/2005 | Sat 20 Nov | Livingston | 0-2 | Aberdeen | SPL |
| 2004/2005 | Sat 28 Aug | Aberdeen | 2 - 0 | Livingston | SPL |
| 2003/2004 | Sat 24 Apr | Livingston | 2 - 0 | Aberdeen | SPL |
| 2003/2004 | Sun 21 Mar | Aberdeen | 1 - 2 | Livingston | SPL |
| 2003/2004 | Thu 18 Mar | Livingston | 1 - 0 | Aberdeen | SFAC |
Recent respective form guides
Livingston are not in the best of form at home, with two wins, two draws, and two defeats in their last six. The Livi's have scored 7 goals in these games, but conceded an alarming 9.
Aberdeen have an average recent record on the road, with two wins, two draws, and two defeats. A generous 7 goals have been both scored and conceded in this period.
Livingston are hovering perilously just above the relegation zone, with 11 points from 18 matches. Aberdeen see themselves just below half way in the Bank of Scotland Scottish Premier, showing a record of 22 points from their 18 games played so far,
For a detailed analysis of team form guides throughout the leagues, click here
| Current form guides: | P | W | D | L | F | A | P |
| Livingston | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 9 |
| Aberdeen | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 |
Ultras Pregiction...
3-1 to the Lions....