Last updated on .From the section Scottish Premiership

Aberdeen stayed fourth in the Scottish Premiership after inflicting a first defeat in six games for Livingston.

Connor McLennan's first goal of the season opened the scoring, the winger bundling home following a counter-attack in the first half.

Bruce Anderson then confirmed the points with a second-half finish.

Gary Holt's side grabbed a late consolation goal through Lyndon Dykes' 10th of the season, as they stayed in seventh place.

Aberdeen win festive skirmish

Holt brought Livingston to Aberdeen on Christmas Day to ensure they were properly prepared, but in the early stages it seemed as though both sides had enjoyed the festivities a little too much.

Players huffed and puffed across the park, with the only moment of genuine ingenuity the passage of play that put the hosts in front after 13 uneventful minutes.

Niall McGinn played Lewis Ferguson through into yards of space in the middle of the pitch then, as Livingston's defence amassed around him, he laid the ball off for McLennan to tap home.

Livingston had by no means looked devoid of ideas but they - like Aberdeen for much of the half - lacked the sharpness in the final third to turn a lot of running and tackling into genuine chances.

Holt's side could have levelled just before the break when Scott Pittman was played through, but the on-rushing Joe Lewis managed to get enough on the midfielder's right-footed shot to turn it away.

Livingston hadn't looked like a side who were undefeated in their last five games. Aberdeen, without suspended star striker Sam Cosgrove, were perhaps doing as well as could be expected.

McInnes' side had lost just one of their nine home league games prior to this and, as the second half marched on, it became clear that the hosts were settling into a comfortable routine.

They soaked up pressure then continued to break on the counter through the pace and skill of McLennan and McGinn.

Indeed, McGinn came close to doubling the lead just after the hour when McLennan poked the ball through to him, but the winger couldn't bend the ball in.

Six minutes later, the duo again linked up to cause more havoc. This time McGinn fired a shot from the right, only to then watch it deflect into the air where McLennan headed towards goal. A lunging save from Matija Sarkic stopped it.

McInnes brought on Anderson and, as the game stuttered to a conclusion, the 21-year-old striker alleviated any nervousness among the home fans when he latched on to the end of a through ball and curled into the far corner of the net.

Livingston would eventually get their goal - a front-post glancing header from Dykes following an inch-perfect Steven Lawless cross - but Holt's side had left it too late.

Man of the match - Lewis Ferguson

BBC Scotland's Tyrone Smith at Pittodrie

It was difficult to pick a man of the match in what was a pretty disappointing game. But not for the first time during his Pittodrie career, Lewis Ferguson caught the eye.

It was another tireless performance from Ferguson, who carried plenty of threat at the top end of the park. But he also did the ugly stuff well too, breaking things up in midfield, and helping shield the Aberdeen rearguard from any potential threat.

'I thought we dominated the game' - reaction

Aberdeen assistant manager Tony Docherty: "I thought it was a tough game. They've scored 10 in their last three games so we knew it was going to be difficult. I think moments of quality won the game.

"I'm slightly disappointed we never kept a clean sheet but considering the level of opponent we were playing, another home win means three points that allows us to go in to the next game with confidence."

Livingston manager Gary Holt: "I'm really frustrated. I think the game panned out as we had executed it. We were good at times, especially in the second half. I thought we dominated the game.

"But if you give two poor goals away - two that Aberdeen didn't have to work for - you're fighting an uphill battle. I don't think my keeper had a save to make and we're on the end of a 2-1 defeat again."