Aberdeen

The season has been nothing but eventful for County.

They started with Malky Mackay in charge after he oversaw survival via the play-offs last season. By mid-November, he had gone and in came Derek Adams for a third spell in charge.

However, it was an unhappy reunion. Adams criticised the quality of the Premiership and before too long followed Mackay out the exit door via resignation in February.

Don Cowie, whose playing career was bookended by spells at County, was seemingly the last man standing and the interim manager certainly improved results, just not well enough to seal safety via league position. Two tense meetings with Raith Rovers in the Scottish Premiership play-off final await.

For Aberdeen, incoming manager Jimmy Thelin will arrive from Elfsborg next month and the Swede, like all Premiership managers, faces a big summer of recruitment to improve the club's fortunes.

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Aberdeen winger Junior Hoilett (pictured left) was a persistent threat and made a valuable contribution with the assist for the Dons' second goal.

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Ross County boss Don Cowie has no fresh injuries. Max Sheaf (muscle), Dylan Smith (ankle) and Scott Allardice (knee) remain out while Ross Callachan is yet to make his comeback following a long-term knee injury.

Aberdeen’s squad is in good shape.

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• Ross County have lost each of their last four league meetings with Aberdeen, and have scored just one goal in their last five against them in the Scottish Premiership (D1 L4).

• Aberdeen have only lost one of their last nine league trips to Ross County (W6 D2), going down 4-1 in January 2021.

• Ross County have lost their final league match in both of their last two seasons since beating Motherwell 2-1 to close out 2020-21.

• Aberdeen have failed to score a goal on the final matchday in any of their last three league seasons (D1 L2), also conceding nine goals in this time.

• Aberdeen, along with Celtic, are one of two sides to win all four of their Scottish Premiership matches since the division split into the top six and bottom six. The last side to win all five of their matches after the split in a season in the competition were Celtic in 2016-17, while the last side other than Celtic to do so were Inverness Caledonian Thistle in 2005-06.

Aberdeen finish their season with a trip to Dingwall in the Scottish Premiership, looking to build on their strong form under interim manager Peter Leven.

Who would you like to see start against Ross County? Pick your Dons XI here.

Ross County are on course to finish above the league's bottom two places and thus be assured of another season of top-flight football.

Under interim manager Don Cowie, County are two points above St Johnstone going into Sunday's final games.

While Saints are away to Motherwell, the Dingwall side will be at home to Aberdeen - who themselves have an aim.

The Dons, seventh, are on four wins out of four since the split and will definitely finish with more points than sixth-placed Dundee and possibly also St Mirren, who are fifth.

A draw could allow St Johnstone to overtake County on goal difference but only if the Perth side win.

The future of the managerial position in Dingwall is uncertain but Cowie will be regarded as a hero if he completes County's survival mission.

Read all the Premiership picks for the final weekend

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Peter Leven believes his Aberdeen side's buy-in to the interim manager's style of play has been key to their upturn in form.

The Pittodrie side are undefeated in their last eight league outings, winning four on the bounce.

"I've loved it, " Leven said. "It was a tough task when I took over. I didn't want to be the first Aberdeen manager to get us relegated.

"I had a style of play that I thought benefit us. The boys have bought into it and stuck to it, and you can see it in the results and performances.

"The fans have been amazing as well. I'm sure we'll have a lot of travelling fans up in Dingwall."

Leven's final game in charge before the arrival of new man Jimmy Thelin requires a trip north to Ross County, who have Premiership survival at stake.

"We're in good form, we're scoring a lot of goals," Leven added.

"We know it'll be a difficult game, Ross County need to win. They're fighting for their lives.

"The boys know the standards we've set. The application has been brilliant. The senior players drive it every day."

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Aberdeen midfielder Connor Barron could be a surprise inclusion in Scotland's Euro 2024 squad. (Sun), external

Dante Polvara was almost in tears as Aberdeen team-mate Jonny Hayes said his Pittodrie goodbyes following the win over Livingston. (Record), external

Polvara wants to give Hayes and other departing Dons team-mates a winning send-off against Ross County on Sunday. (Press and Journal - subscription), external

Mick Kennedy, whose East Kilbride side are tied at 2-2 with Stranraer before Saturday's SPFL play-off decider, says securing a place in Scottish League 2 would top knocking Aberdeen out of the Scottish Cup as Darvel boss in 2023. (Record), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip

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Captain Graeme Shinnie says Aberdeen's upturn in form has shown incoming manager Jimmy Thelin "what this team are capable of".

The midweek win against Livingston means the Dons are now on an eight-game unbeaten run in the league under caretaker boss Peter Leven.

Among those eight matches have been six wins, two draws and six clean sheets, with nine goals scored in the past two fixtures.

Despite that positive run, Shinnie says it has still been a "frustrating" campaign, given Aberdeen will finish in the bottom half, but they have at least brought "a real buzz" back to Pittodrie.

"The good thing is we have ended the season really well," Shinnie adds. "We want to go up to Ross County on Sunday and win that game as well.

"We want to finish really strong, the fans deserve it, we want to win for them. They will back us again in their massive numbers in Dingwall like they always do.

"It brings a real buzz with a new era starting with the new manager, so the fans are right there again and we will look forward to next season."

Sportscene pundits Charlie Mulgrew and Neil McCann revel in 16-year-old Fletcher Boyd's second goal in as many Aberdeen games and praise the impact of stand-in manager Peter Levein. (Available to UK users only)

We asked for your views after Aberdeen's impressive 5-1 win over Aberdeen.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Eric: Another good performance, we created a lot of chances and looked strong at the back. The players look to be enjoying themselves and have belief. I would still like to hear more about player contracts for next season or other clubs will make these decisions for us and we will be back to square one.

Norrie: Nobody in the stadium knew what the penalty was for. Re-refereeing yet another game and incorrectly. Bin VAR. Aberdeen were very good, Dante Polvara gets better every game. A good finish to the season, oh what could have been.

Andy: We need to get Fletcher Boyd on one of those eight-year contracts Chelsea give out. The boy looks a superb prospect.

Chris: The five changes from the Hibs game were a bit of a concern, especially the way the first half went. VAR's intervention for the penalty was ridiculous and I still have no idea why the foul on Ester Sokler wasn't taken into account. The second half was a joy to watch, hopefully recent performances carry on into next season.

Niall: The Dons delivered one of their most dominant displays of the season which will give lots of confidence to the squad. On another night we could have scored five more. The energy, creativity and willingness, that has been sorely lacking for much of this season, was there in abundance. Peter Leven has been transformational with this squad and all credit to him.

Andrew: Very rarely this Season could you say you were expecting a goals fest or a clean sheet but after Sunday's excellent performance I hoped for both again. Leven's much-changed team delivered almost on both, only a soft VAR penalty award robbing us of another clean sheet. The cup semi-final loss is looking like an opportunity missed given our current form!

Alison: Great last home game of the season, just a pity we couldn't have played more like that throughout the season. It's been eye-bleeding stuff watching the Dons this season. Hopefully with the new manager coming in, and some new players, we can look forward to a better new season. A big shoutout has to go to Leven.

• Livingston have scored in their last five games in the Scottish Premiership, their longest run since netting in eight in a row from 29 January 2022 to 6 March 2022.

• Aberdeen have won 12 points from losing positions in the Premiership this season, only Motherwell (19) and Rangers (17) have recovered more.

• Junior Hoilett has assisted six goals this season (two in this game), more than any other Aberdeen player in the league.

• Aberdeen have won after conceding the opening goal in the Premiership for the first time since 20 December 2023 against Livingston (eight games without a win).

• Aberdeen have won their last four games in the top flight, their last longer winning streak was from 25 February 2023 to 23 April 2023, a run of seven games.

Aberdeen interim manager Peter Leven urges the club to extend winger Junior Hoilett's short-term stay at Pittodrie. (Press and Journal - subscription), external

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip

Watch the best of the action from Aberdeen's 5-1 Scottish Premiership win over Livingston. (Available to UK users only)

Aberdeen interim Peter Leven says his side were "brilliant" as they extended their unbeaten run in the Scottish Premiership.

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Aberdeen came from a goal down to thump already-relegated Livingston in their final Pittodrie fixture of the Scottish Premiership season with a rampant second-half display.

The home side fashioned multiple first-half chances but lacked a clinical touch, with Livingston almost going ahead but for a goalline clearance late in the opening period.

After the interval Livingston were awarded a penalty for an Ester Sokler handball following VAR intervention and Tete Yengi expertly lifted his spot-kick into the roof of the net.

But Junior Hoilett showed a moment of quality to draw the Dons level with a looping free-kick before Graeme Shinnie's diving header put his side into the lead.

Dante Polvara then swept home and Hoilett's close-range finish compounded the visitors' misery.

With moments to go, 16-year-old Fletcher Boyd scored his second in as many games as he struck from the edge of the area with a low strike to put the gloss on a fourth Aberdeen straight win that keeps them in seventh place.

Were you at the match this evening or following along from elsewhere?

Either way, we want your views on the action here.

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Aberdeen interim manager Peter Leven “I’m delighted. But we had loads of chances in the first half and never took them.

“They got a penalty but I haven’t saw it back. Ester said it wasn’t a penalty but listen, VAR decision again.

“I thought that boys were brilliant tonight, started really well, just couldn’t score but we’d obviously just saved them for the second half.

“We always knew we were going to create again in the second half, we went a goal down but I always knew we’d create with the quality we’ve got on the pitch and score goals.”

On Junior Hoilett, and a potential new deal he adds: “I’ve told the club my thoughts, Junior’s a top player, yes he’s coming to the end of his career but when he puts on performances like that you can see why we should be giving him another year.”

Jack Herrall
BBC Sport Scotland

Looking evitalised under the guidance of Peter Leven, in a game where it would have been easy to grow frustrated at half time they showed a spirit that they've lacked for lare stretches of this campaign.

Hoilett drifted in from the left to play closer to Sokler leaving Duk free to stick to the touchline and stretch the opposition's defence.

Attacking fluidity of that level needs a strong base to build from and Shinnie showed again just how important he is to this side.

Junior Hoilett showed his experience and attacking intelligence througout the evening.

With his deal up at the end of the season, surely he'll have another one offered to him this summer?

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Substitutes: Roos, Jensen, McGrath. Miovski, Clarkson, Hayes, Milne, Rubezic, Boyd.

Livingston: George, Montano, Devlin, Pittman, Kelly, Brandon, Bradley, Nouble, Nottingham, Kelly, Yengi.

Substitutes: Wright, Carson, Anderson, MacKay, Sangare, Shinnie, Sharp.

• Follow the action live here

Liam McLeod
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

Talk about a schoolboy’s dream.

At just 16 years and 107 days, Fletcher Boyd capped a dream week by scoring his first senior goal on his senior debut when he netted Aberdeen’s fourth in their rout of Hibernian in Edinburgh right in front of the visiting supporters.

Boyd, who last week helped the Aberdeen under-18 side win their league title, has also started scoring for the Scotland under-16s, having done so twice against Norway in Cyprus at the start of March. It has been quite the couple of months for the attacking midfielder who hails from the north-east village of Portsoy.

His stunning moment late on at Easter Road evoked memories of the last man from that small hamlet on the Moray Coast to explode onto the scene at Pittodrie.

In 1989, then co-managers Alex Smith and Jocky Scott handed Eoin Jess one of his early starts in the League Cup final against Rangers, he was two years older than Boyd is now and it was a game he didn’t look out of place in.

He went onto win three winners’ medals during a career that lit up Scottish Football. Had Jess not suffered a leg break in a Scottish Cup tie against Clydebank, who knows what level he would have reached. It stifled his rapid progress and by the time he was back up to speed, Aberdeen were on a downward trajectory.

However, Jess rightly takes his place in the club’s folklore and in Portsoy itself whilst in Boyd, the Aberdeen supporters have another local talent to get excited about, just like Jess all those years ago.

All four Aberdeen goals in Leith were full of quality and it has been clear that the current squad has underachieved in the Premiership this season.

What we saw in the capital was what the team is capable of on its day. It was interesting to hear Peter Leven using terms like “throwing the shackles off”.

Had the previous incumbents of the hotseat at Pittodrie this season been of a similar mind, perhaps they would be looking forward to European football again and not seeing out the campaign amongst the also-rans.

There has been much to point fingers at in Aberdeen this season, but, in Boyd and his team-mates in the youth academy such as Alfie Bavidge and Findlay Marshall, the club has to be commended.

Just maybe they have just unearthed the next prodigal son from Portsoy in the process.

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• Aberdeen are unbeaten in four league meetings with Livingston (W2 D2), keeping three clean sheets in the process.

• Livingston have lost each of their last three league trips to Aberdeen since a 2-1 victory in April 2022.

• Aberdeen have won three of their last four home league games (D1), as many as their first 14 this season beforehand (W3 D6 L5).

• Livingston have lost 14 of their 18 Scottish Premiership away games this season (W1 D3); since the SPFL began in 2013, only two sides – Motherwell in 2014-15, and Kilmarnock in 2022-23 – have lost 15 away games in a single top-flight campaign.

• Aberdeen’s Bojan Miovski has scored more Scottish Premiership goals against Livingston (5) than any other opponent, with all five strikes coming in just three home appearances against them.