Key Takeaways
- Robbie Muirhead scored a stunning 78th-minute goal to secure a 2-2 draw for Livingston against Aberdeen.
- The result leaves Livingston eight points from safety with relegation still looming this weekend.
- Aberdeen missed the chance to secure their top-flight status and complete a third straight league win.
Livingston kept their faint survival hopes alive after fighting back twice to claim a dramatic 2-2 draw against Aberdeen at the Tony Macaroni Arena. A brilliant long-range strike from Robbie Muirhead seven minutes from time cancelled out an unfortunate own goal by Dan Finlayson, giving the bottom side a valuable point in their fight against the drop.
The visitors took the lead midway through the first half when Mitchel Frame, who previously played for Celtic, cut inside from the right and fired a low shot into the corner for his first goal for the club. Aberdeen should have extended their advantage when Toyosi Olusanya raced clear onto a through ball from Dennis Geiger, but the striker dragged his shot wide of the target from close range despite being perfectly onside.
Livingston manager Marvin Bartley made three substitutions at the interval, introducing Scott Pittman, Barrie McKay and Macaulay Tait. The changes had an immediate effect. Just two minutes after the restart, Joel Nouble levelled the scores by tapping in a rebound from a yard out after Aberdeen goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov had saved a header that rebounded off the post and striker Kevin Nisbet.
The Dons regained the lead in the 71st minute when Nisbet headed on a free-kick at the near post, and the ball struck defender Finlayson before flying past goalkeeper Jerome Prior for an own goal. However, the hosts refused to accept defeat. Seven minutes later, Muirhead picked up a loose ball 22 yards from goal and curled a magnificent shot into the top corner to make it 2-2.
Both teams had chances to win the match in the closing stages, but neither could find a decisive goal. The result leaves Livingston still rooted to the foot of the table, eight points behind Kilmarnock. They will suffer relegation on Saturday if Kilmarnock defeat Dundee United. Aberdeen, meanwhile, remain in mid-table and must wait at least another week to mathematically confirm their safety from the relegation battle.