Livingston 0 Aberdeen 0

Last updated : 28 December 2005 By Footymad Previewer

This one had 0-0 written all over it before a ball had even been kicked, and sure enough it did finish goal-less just as it had at Pittodrie in September.

The draw takes Livingston three points clear of bottom club Dunfermline, but they could easily have followed up last week's home victory over Dundee United with another at Aberdeen's expense.

The visitors looked a pale shadow of last years EUFA Cup challenging team, and with only one win in the last seven games they are struggling to make the top six never mind qualifying for Europe.

In a terrible first half which even featured a 60-yard a back-pass, Dons top scorer Jamie Smith and Livingston teenager Robert Snodgrass produced half-hearted attempts on goal before Paul Dalglish pulled an angled right-foot shot inches wide of the Aberdeen net as his dad Kenny watched from the stand.

A wayward pass from Richie Byrne let Dalglish in again shortly before half-time, but on this occasion he miscued badly. His third scoring opportunity arrived early in the second half, but this time Dalglish found the side-netting.

A precise pass from Aberdeeen's Russell Anderson enabled Stevie Crawford to get away from Greg Strong, but the forward hooked the ball tamely into goal keeper Roddy McKenzie's arms.

Aberdeen keeper Jamie Langfield then made a crucial block with his legs to deny Jason Dair from point blank range.

Livingston continued to look the likelier side to score, and Gabor Vincze and Harald Pinxten both went close in the last five minutes.