Aberdeen 4-0 Livingston

Adam Rooney salutes the Aberdeen support after netting a hat-trick against Livingston

Adam Rooney scored a hat-trick as Scottish League Cup holders Aberdeen began the defence of the trophy with a comfortable win over Livingston.

The Dons got off to the best possible start with Ashton Taylor heading his first goal for the club from Nicky Low's cross.

Rooney hammered in a second after a back-heel from David Goodwillie and then netted another shortly after.

The hosts continued to impress and Rooney completed his hat-trick late on.

However, there were concerns for midfielder Ryan Jack who was carried off with a serious looking injury.

Livingston had chances of their own in an enterprising first half, but found Aberdeen a different animal after half-time.

After a sticky start to the season Aberdeen look like they are beginning to find form, and Dons boss Derek McInnes signalled his side's intent to follow on from the weekend 3-0 win over Ross County by naming a strong team.

And, after Rooney saw an early shot saved by the knee of Livingston goalkeeper Darren Jamieson, the Dons were soon in front.

Good play from Jonny Hayes won the hosts a corner, and Taylor rose highest at the back post to head in Low's delivery.

However, Livingston responded well to the early set-back and carved out a few opportunities that troubled their Scottish Premiership opponents.

Keaghan Jacobs hit a snap shot that debutant goalkeeper Scott Brown dealt well with, and then Gary Glen twice went close to drawing Livingston level.

At the other end, Rooney hit a shot over the bar after seeing his initial effort saved.

Ashton Taylor celebrates after his first goal for Aberdeen gave them an early lead against Livingston

A good passing move from Aberdeen at the beginning of the second half opened up the chance for Low to lash in a stinging shot that was well saved by Jamieson.

Myles Hippolyte whistled a shot just wide of the post for Livingston with his first touch of the game after replacing David Robertson.

The Dons got their second though when Andrew Considine launched a flowing move forward after winning the ball from Hippolyte.

Hayes picked out Goodwillie who heeled back to Rooney, and the Dons striker thumped the ball into the net.

The home side lost Jack to injury but were soon further ahead when Rooney gave the goalkeeper no chance with a hard shot into the far corner.

McInnes had accused his side of not winning by enough at the weekend and their continued pressing led to Rooney's 10th goal of the season.

Peter Pawlett had a number of options as the red shirts piled forward. He elected to play it wide for Hayes, who drilled the ball across goal for the Irishman to net his hat-trick.

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes: "From five or ten minutes after scoring a goal it was problematic for us, Livingston were very good. We expected them to be good.

"We had to change our shape slightly because they were getting too much of the ball.

"All three of his [Rooney] goals were different but all very good. Some top finishes - finishes of a confident player.

"I think Adam, in around the penalty box there's few better than him. He's a proper penalty box striker.

"[Jack's] not got a lot of swelling at the minute but we have to wait and see. We'll see the extent of that damage tomorrow."

Livingston manager John McGlynn: "I thought we were well in the game until the second goal.

"The lads did exceptionally well in the first half and we caused one or two problems for Aberdeen and maybe on another day we could have got a goal and went in level at half-time.

"It's disappointing to lose 4-0 it looks like a heavy defeat but I think it's a bit harsh on our lads, we didn't really deserve that.

"Aberdeen are a very, very good side. We knew that before we came up here, it was a tough ask tonight.

"But, we'll dust ourselves down because we've got a big game at Tynecastle on Sunday."