Graeme Shinnie scoops Aberdeen FC collectors item after brother Andrew 'left a late one' on him in Livingston draw

There won’t be many who were inside the Tony Macaroni Stadium on Saturday who will look back on this stalemate as a fond memory.

But for Graeme Shinnie, Aberdeen’s Premiership bore draw with Livingston was a priceless collectors item in his career after lining up against big brother Andrew. As the Dons opened their campaign in understated fashion, the 32-year-old insisted it was a proud day for the Shinnie family and a reminder for him of a turning point. The Pittodrie skipper’s midfield battle with his sibling provided total recall for a moment in time when he was struggling to make an impact at Derby after the realisation of a dream from where the pair were children.

He said: “My debut for Derby was against Luton when Andrew was playing. I managed to resurrect my career there and got Man of the Match in that game. It is something I won’t forget and something I won’t stop reminding him of. It is always a pleasure to play against him as we grew up dreaming of these meetings in the top leagues.

“It is always competitive and he left a late one on me at the end of the game which he apologised for.”

There was certainly no love lost in several crunching challenges during a game where Aberdeen failed to register a single shot on target and appeared content just to get out of the Lions’ den without defeat or any lasting damage. There were seven bookings and an ending which saw Livi striker Bruce Anderson stretchered from the pitch with blood pouring from a nasty head wound which would require a hospital visit and fears he’d also fractured ribs into the bargain.

Dons boss Barry Robson was generous in his praise of Livingston’s display even if he did make a barbed remark about their approach and apparent intent to upset the