Livingston 0 - 0 Aberdeen

VAR denied the Dons a late win at Livingston on an afternoon where difficult conditions determined that Aberdeen’s trip to Almondvale finished goalless for the second time this term.

Following the 2-1 victory over Motherwell, Peter Leven named an unchanged Aberdeen starting XI, Angus MacDonald returning to the bench after illness in place of Jonny Hayes.

Livingston lost 3-0 at home to Celtic and made one change, Daniel Mackay replacing Jason Holt.

The game kicked off in the teeth of a fierce wind in the Dons’ faces that made life all the more difficult on the artificial surface. Inevitably the home side settled on it quickest, Sean Kelly away down the left to centre for Bradley who guided his header wide of goal in the fourth minute.

There was a clash of heads between Bojan Miovski and Brandon on 11 minutes, the Livi man laid out and needing lengthy treatment to a cut to his head. He went off to get further treatment as the game carried on, Livingston having just four outfield players on the bench. Moments later, George went down and needed treatment too. He was fit to carry on after a couple of minutes, Brandon returning to the field shortly afterwards.

George was fit enough to make a terrific save from Miovski on 20 minutes. A neat through ball from Leighton Clarkson had Miovski running in on goal beyond the defenders, but the Livi goalkeeper was quickly off his line to smother at the edge of his area.

Yengi was next to need the physio after he took a high boot from Richard Jensen in the face on the half hour. No sooner was he back on than Nottingham and Jamie McGrath clashed heads and required the medics before resuming.

Kelle Roos had to be down to his right on 42 minutes to save an awkward bouncing shot from distance from Pittman, then a minute later after real persistence from Yengi, Nicky Devlin had to make a vital block to keep things at 0-0. Yengi then went into the book for pulling Stefan Gartenmann’s shirt after 44 minutes, before we then went into nine minutes of added time – and in truth, this wasn’t a half of football where you needed an extra second.

HALF-TIME: LIVINGSTON 0 ABERDEEN 0

Angus MacDonald came on at the break, replacing Richard Jensen as the rain started to fall at Almondvale. Devlin was booked on 51 minutes for dragging Junior Hoilett down. From the resulting wind-assisted free-kick 35 yards out, McGrath had George scrambling to turn the ball behind at the foot of his post.

McGrath was close again on 53, a cross to the back post almost drifting in, George beaten and relieved to see it thump against the woodwork and away. A minute later, Graeme Shinnie’s corner from the Aberdeen right almost curled in, the ball heading behind off a combination of George and crossbar, though no corner was given.

Livingston made their first change after 59 minutes, Anderson replacing Bradley. Duk then came on for Hoilett six minutes later, Brandon making way for Holt at the same time. Dante Polvara continued the flurry of changes as he came on for Connor Barron on 73 minutes.

Confusion between George and Devlin earned the Dons another right wing corner two minutes later, but George collected Clarkson’s delivery with ease. Going into the last 10 minutes, Sangare replaced Nottingham in Livi’s final change, Ester Sokler replacing McGrath four minutes later.

Two minutes from time, Miovski was onto the ball 25 yards out, but his drive at goal was straight down George’s throat. There seemed to be no stopping him 40 seconds later though as Miovski looked to have put Aberdeen ahead. A deep free-kick from Clarkson was worked back across goal by MacDonald, Gartenmann’s glancing header forcing a fine diving save from George at point blank range, but he could only push it to the back post where Miovski found an acrobatic finish to lash the ball into the net. A VAR check ensued with Miovski found to be offside as the initial ball was played in, the goal chalked off.

In the final minute, Devlin had to make another important block to deny Kelly, the ball going behind for a corner, the Dons eventually scrambling that one away to safety.

9 minutes added at end 1st half.
6 minutes added at end 2nd half.