Jim Goodwin has apologised to the Aberdeen fans for an 'unacceptable' opening 20 minutes against Livingston. But insists his players have nothing to be sorry for regarding their second half display.
Jack Fitzwater gave the Lions the lead before Sean kelly's spot-kick doubled the advantage. After half-an-hour, the Dons could count themselves lucky to only be two goals down. They had a huge chance to reduce the arrears when they were awarded a late first half penalty of their own. However, Bojan Miovski saw his spot kick and the rebound saved by Shamal George.
When VAR concluded that a third of the match should be awarded for a handball after the break, it was Goodwin's side who were the beneficiaries again. This time, Duk Lopes picked up the ball and succeeded where his strike partner failed, slotting home from 12 yards. But the Portuguese, as well as Miovski, was wasteful in front of goal as Livi held on to go level on points with their opponents.
"in this league, you cannot start games slowly,' said Goodwin. "I can't put my finger on it. We quite simply weren't at the races in the opening 15 to 20 minutes. Livingston looked a lot hungrier than we did and did the basics better than us. They managed to get themselves a two-goal lead and it's very hard to claw that back.
"The second half performance was outstanding as far as I'm concerned. We completely dominated the game.
'We had more attempts on goal tonight than what we've had in probably the last four or five games. That's where you scratch your head. We just couldn't break Livingston down to get that equaliser
"It was a really strange game. Livingston were by far the better team in the first half and deserved their lead. But second half we've completely controlled the game and spent 95 per cent of it in Livingston's territory.
"It wasn't through lack of effort. This isn't a night where the players have to apologise to the supporters for a lack of commitment or effort.
"I certainly can apologise for the opening 15 or 20 minutes. It wasn;t acceptable and we looked a shadow of the team we've been in recent weeks. But for the second 45, the boys were excellent."
Davie Martindale admitted his team were fortunate to win the game. But he reminded his players it doesn't matter how you score the most goals, as long as you do it.
"First half, we were value for money," he told BBC Scotland. "Shamal saves a penalty and we took a huge risk playing Shamal tonight because he's got a slight thigh injury. But it paid dividends because he [produced some top class saves to keep us in the game.
"Aberdeen put us under huge pressure in the second half. They're chasing the game and need three goals to win, two to draw so their formation, tactics and intensity all changed. They had a change of shape as well and we never quite got to grips with it.
"But we limited them to very little inside our box. It was just cross balls from wide areas. But you;re running the risk letting teams do that. First or second contact, anything landing on a player's hand has the potential to be a penalty.
"So Aberdeen will go up the road a wee bit unjust that they've not taken anything from the game. But, you've got to score goals to win games of football and it doesn't matter how you do that."
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