Premier League Aberdeen must try again after being held to a goalless draw by Livingston.

Indeed the First Division leaders enjoyed the best chances throughout the fourth-round tie - boding well for life in the top flight should they go on to win promotion this year.

The Almondvale side put Aberdeen out of the competition as recently as 1999, when John Robertson - now first-team coach - grabbed the only goal of the game.

But they will now have to wait until a week on Wednesday to find out if they can manage another victory over the Pittodrie side.

Eager to prove themselves against top-flight opposition, Livingston wasted no time in trying to attack the Dons goal.

Within a minute of the game kicking off, a Marvin Andrews cross found Barry Wilson about 20 yards out. The Livingston striker unleashed but the shot flew well over the crossbar.

The home side were attacking again after six minutes. This time Paul Deas flicked the ball on to Wilson inside the area but the danger was cleared by Derek Whyte before Wilson could pull the trigger.

Three minutes later Rachid Belabed had the first real chance of the game for Aberdeen but squandered a great chance to put the Dons ahead. Arild Stavrum's header was knocked down into the path of Belabed by Darren Mackie but the Moroccan sent the ball wide of a gaping goal.

Alex Burns had a great chance to give the First Division side the lead after 15 minutes but sent the ball over the crossbar from close range.

A few minutes later Brian McPhee went on a good run down the right flank before firing a shot from a tight angle but the ball was easily held by goalkeeper David Preece.

After 19 minutes, Belabed had another chance to give the Dons the lead. This time he met Kevin McNaughton's cross but nodded just over.

But Livingston should have taken the lead after 23 minutes. Wilson sent a cross into the box which found McPhee, and the Livvy player unleashed a superb volley that looked goalbound but Preece produced an instinctive block to deny the Almondvale side.

On the half hour mark, Robbie Winters could have put Aberdeen ahead when he met a McNaughton cross but somehow managed to pull the ball wide of the post.

Bingham was looking impressive for Livingston and he almost set up Wilson. He took the ball round Thomas Solberg before releasing Wilson in front of goal, but Preece dived low to scoop up the ball.

Bingham, himself, came close one minute before the break with a close-range header but the ball was held by the Aberdeen goalkeeper.

Livingston had enjoyed the best of the chances in the first half and continued to push forward after the re-start.

A Darren Jackson cross was met by Burns six yards out but goalkeeper Preece managed to block after 52 minutes.

A minute later, the home side were threatening again. Bingham swung a corner kick into the area, pinpointing Marvin Andrews only for him to nod just over the crossbar.

The Dons had struggled to create much after the break, and their luck took another turn for the worse, when McNaughton was stretchered off and had to be replaced by Derek Young just before the hour mark.

David Rowson should have grabbed the first goal of the game after 71 minutes when he got on the end of a Winters corner but sent the header just over the crossbar.

A minute later, the Dons wasted another gilt-edged chance to take the lead when Mackie blasted over from just a few yards out. At the other end of the park, Livvy came close when Burns sent a pass through to Bingham who looked certain to net only for Preece to come to the rescue again.

But the Almondvale side should have went ahead after 78 minutes. Wilson swung a cross into the box that was met by Andrews whose header smacked off the underside of the crossbar.

Just three minutes from time, Burns could have secured the win but sent the shot over the crossbar.

A minute later he claimed he had been tripped by Cato Guntveit inside the area but instead of awarding a penalty, referee Kenny Clark produced a yellow card.

Teams:

Livingston: Alexander, Brinquin (McManus 56), Deas, Andrews, Anderson, McCulloch, Jackson (Britton 78), McPhee (Fleming 67), Wilson, Burns, Bingham.

Subs Not Used: Crabbe, McCaldon.

Booked: Brinquin, McManus, Burns.

Aberdeen: Preece, McNaughton (Derek Young 60), Whyte (McGuire 46), Solberg, McAllister (Darren Young 46), Guntveit, Rowson, Belabed, Winters, Stavrum, Mackie.

Subs Not Used: Clark, Esson.

Booked: Whyte, Darren Young.

Att: 7,000

Ref: K Clark (Scotland).