Livingston 0-0 Aberdeen: Hosts extend unbeaten run to 13 in stalemate

Aberdeen want a striker to "build for next season", says manager Derek McInnes after they drew a blank against Livingston.

The result is Aberdeen's second goalless draw in a row, and their fourth in eight games.

Livingston extended their incredible unbeaten run to 13 games, but failed to close the gap on third-placed Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership.

"We don't have any strikers under contract for next season," he said.

"But, we're having to deal with the here and now. What we want is a winning team on the pitch. My players are deserving of that, they're putting so much into games at the minute."

The stalemate with Livingston meant Aberdeen missed the chance to go to within three points of second-placed Celtic, who lost at home.

"There's a lot right about the team," McInnes told BBC Scotland.

"But, for all the good we're doing - and we are good side - we clearly could do with that number nine at the top end of the pitch. We just feel we're a bit short at the minute."

The pair meet again on Tuesday at Pittodrie, with Livingston still searching for their first win over Aberdeen since 2004.

• Reaction & as it happened

The last time these two sides met in August, Aberdeen's 2-1 win sent Livingston bottom of the Premiership table. Five months on and ahead of a double header between the pair, Livingston had their eye on eventually overtaking Aberdeen in the table and securing third spot, virtue of no defeats since November.

Early on, it was lively. Livi's Julien Serrano rolled the ball into the net early on but had his effort cancelled out for offside, and then Aberdeen ventured forward with two gilt-edged chances.

Connor McLennan headed off the bar from Jonny Hayes' cross, before Matty Kennedy played in Hayes who just had the goalkeeper to beat but skewed his effort horribly wide.

Back came the home side, and Dons goalkeeper Joe Lewis had to scramble a Scott Pittman effort off the line, with the Livi man having to stretch to meet a cross at the back post.

But after that there was a stop-start nature to the game and little goalmouth activity until the start of the second half, when Livingston's Efe Ambrose sent Ash Taylor's attempted clearance back across goal, and Scott Robinson put a header over from close range.

But Aberdeen showed how dangerous they could be when Ryan Hedges played a through ball, Ross McCrorie burrowed his way through the Livi defence and stole the ball off Ambrose, before testing Max Stryjek from inside the box.

Taylor then met a free-kick but put it into the hands of Stryjek, before substitute Bruce Anderson headed wide from a Tommie Hoban cross.

Livingston had the last say when Pittman's drive at goal was tipped wide, but both sides had to settle for a point apiece.

Man of the match - Ross McCrorie

Aberdeen midfielder Ross McCrorie (right) put in a battling performance defensively, but also was a threat going forward

What did we learn?

It's another game unbeaten for Livingston, and a fourth clean sheet in five games for David Martindale's side.

Their only frustration will be that there remains an eight-point gap on themselves and the Dons, while Hibs' win means they are seven now off fourth as they attempt to clinch a European spot.

It's a second point on the road for Aberdeen but they have won just once in six games, and twice in eight, and those dropped points have meant any chance to put pressure on Celtic for a Champions League spot has faltered.

They started without a striker, with manager Derek McInnes saying pre-match he is working around the clock to get one in on loan before Tuesday's rematch with Livingston.

What did they say?

Livingston manager David Martindale: "It's another clean sheet, that's nine clean sheets in 13 games which is brilliant, phenomenal.

"I thought we stood up to the test today. We can match teams in the top six so there's no reason why we can't be in the top six."

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes: "I thought it was a decent game, two teams with a healthy regard for each other, it was very competitive.

"Defensively as a team out of possession we were brilliant today. Livi constantly asked the question but we stood up to it."

What's next?

It a repeat on Tuesday night as the two sides meet again, this time at Pittodrie (18:00 GMT).