Livingston 0-0 Partick Thistle

Feb 3 2008 Rob Fairburn Reports

YOU couldn't blame Livi owner Pearse Flynn for his blanket ban if he knew what was in store at freezing Almondvale - and on yesterday's display he should have turned the floodlights off too.

Flynn refused to turn on the undersoil heating on Friday but he needn't have bothered with a shocking spectacle for the sparse crowd on offer that neither side deserved to win.

Instead the teams will have to battle it out again a week on Tuesday at Firhill as they bid to make the last eight of the Scottish Cup and hopefully they'll bring their shooting boots.

A calf muscle injury to Mark Roberts in the warm-up resulted in Simon Donnelly, who was not on the subs bench, being thrown straight into the team.

It was a dire clash and half an hour had been played before the first shot was on target from either side.

But even then Alan Walker's long range effort hardly troubled Jon Tuffey.

Thistle carved out the best chances of the game within 60 seconds of the 35 minute mark with Donnelly's header pushed round the post by Colin Stewart.

From the corner Marc Twaddle sent his point blank header over the bar.

The home side had the edge in the second half with Graham Dorrans rounding Tuffey in 65 minutes but he was forced wide.

Robert Snodgrass also rattled the side netting with a free kick.

Dorrans had a late chance when he cut inside but his final effort lacked power and Tuffey saved easily.

But that was about it as far as incidents were concerned.

Scotland under-21 star Dorrans, who signed a pre-contract with West Brom worth £250,000 to the West Lothian club on Thursday, said: "It has been a hectic week and it's a weight off my shoulders. I'm glad it's all over - I look forward to it.

"It would be nice to join West Brom as a Premiership club but at the moment I just have to concentrate on Livingston.

"We should have won but I suppose getting a clean sheet was the best thing about it since we have conceded seven goals to Thistle this season.

"I was disappointed with my finish near the end and had another chance when I went round the keeper but he got a touch to it.

"The manager was asking in the dressing-room why I didn't go down in the box for a penalty.

"But the keeper got a good touch to it and I would have looked silly if I'd gone down."

Frustrated Livingston boss Mark Proctor insists his side should have wrapped it up.

He said: "I'm disappointed we didn't go through. We were by far the better team and had all the possession.

"We out passed and outfought them."

Thistle boss Ian McCall (below) admitted: "They were the better team. It wasn't a great spectacle and Livi played well so I'm delighted we're still in it.

"We have a good record at Firhill so we'll be confident of going through."