Goals from Stevie Crawford and Eric Deloumeaux ensured the points were shared between Bank of Scotland Premier League relegation candidates Dundee United and Livingston at Tannadice.

But the home side will be incensed that referee Kevin Toner waved away a very strong penalty claim at the start of the second half after Emmanuel Dorado's tackle on Jim McIntyre.

Livi were boosted by that decision and won a point to keep their survival hopes alive with Deloumeaux's scrappy 61st-minute equaliser.

United recalled Crawford in place of Jason Scotland, while Livi boss Gough rewarded his players for their excellent win at Hibernian last weekend by naming the same 11 players.

Livi had the better of the opening exchanges and felt hard done by when Paul Ritchie scythed down Burton O'Brien just as he seemed set to latch on to Gustave Bahoken's excellent through ball.

Hassan Kachloul was handed the responsibility of hitting the free-kick, but could not bend it over Barry Robson.

Undeterred the visitors kept pushing forward and a second Ritchie mistake almost gave them a clear route to goal.

The ex-Hearts man ambled into goalkeeper Tony Bullock's line of sight, causing him to spill Colin McMenamin's trundling cross into Kachloul's path.

The Moroccan was on the back foot and tried to change pace, but not before Alan Archibald stepped in to sweep up.

Ritchie's challenge on Kachloul was then effortlessly shrugged aside on the edge of the box but the forward fired inches wide of Bullock's left-hand post.

But United thought the opening goal had come in the 34th minute when 17-year-old Garry Kenneth met Mark Wilson's corner and sent the ball arcing over Roddy McKenzie towards the net.

However, Derek Lilley was able to scramble back and clear, but Livi's luck only held for a further three minutes until Crawford popped up to end his goal drought.

The ex-Dunfermline player linked well with Mark Kerr, who spun away from Bahoken on the far side of the box before sending an inch-perfect cross back into the area.

Crawford was free 10 yards out and punished the goalkeeper for trying to protect his near post too much by sending a diving header flying into the far corner.

United came out for the second half knowing that another goal would seal a crucial win.

They clearly thought that moment had come when they had a penalty claim within 20 seconds of the re-start but their appeals were waved away.

McIntyre nutmegged Dorado on the left-hand side of the box and appeared to be impeded by the Frenchman.

Match official Toner had a good view of the incident and indicated that he thought the United man kicked the turf before hitting the Livi player - much to United's anger.

Livi broke up to the other end and should have equalised, but Lilley could not make contact with the ball only a yard from goal after some more unconvincing goalkeeping by Bullock.

However, the goal eventually came in the 61st minute.

Bullock raced out to gather Kachloul's cross, but was beaten to it by Lilley who, for the second time in the game, missed the ball with the goal at his mercy.

The forward tried to redeem himself by scrambling around for the ball and, just as the whole situation was degenerating into farce, Deloumeaux took charge and booted home.

Play was held up for Bahoken to receive treatment after he bravely threw his body in front of Grant Brebner's fierce blast on the edge of the box.

Bullock had another rush of blood to the head in the 73rd minute when he raced to the edge of the box to gather Burton O'Brien's long free-kick, despite having three of his defenders facing the ball.

But his handling was poor and the ball spilled from his hands, forcing Archibald to step in and mop up.

United caretaker-boss Gordon Chisholm tried to invigorate his attack by swapping Jason Scotland and Collin Samuel for Duff and Crawford as the game entered the final quarter-hour.

The Trinidadians teamed up in the 86th minute, but McNamee managed to clear Samuel's cross before it reached his fellow countryman inside the six-yard area.

Teams

Dundee Utd Bullock, Kenneth, Ritchie, Archibald, Wilson, Kerr, Brebner, Duff (Samuel 67), Robson, Crawford (Scotland 77), McIntyre.

Subs Not Used: Colgan, Dodds, Grady, Gardiner, Cameron.

Booked: McIntyre.

Goals: Crawford 37.

Livingston McKenzie, McNamee, Deloumeaux, Dorado (Rubio 81), Bahoken, Kachloul, Dair, O'Brien, Vincze, Lilley, McMenamin.

Subs Not Used: Meldrum, Easton, Brittain, McPake, Horvath, Snodgrass.

Booked: Bahoken.

Goals: Deloumeaux 61.

Att: 7,687

Ref: K Toner (Scotland).