Livingston moved up to fourth place in the Premiership thanks to victory over Aberdeen in a VAR-fest at the Tony Macaroni Arena.

Three penalties were awarded for handball after initially not being spotted by referee Nick Walsh.

Two were scored, with Duk’s second-half strike proving not to be enough for the Dons following early goals from Jack Fitzwater and a Sean Kelly penalty for the hosts.

Both teams were coming off impressive victories on Friday night, with Aberdeen defeating Hibs 4-1 while Livingston beat Kilmarnock 3-2.

As with many games involving the Lions this season, an early goal kicked the game off, this time through Fitzwater.

A corner-kick bounced around the box before the centre-half fired a half volley which Kelle Roos couldn’t get a strong enough hand to as Livi took an early lead.

The goal encouraged the hosts as they gave Aberdeen no time on the ball and carried out attack after attack.

Dylan Bahamboula was in fine form, pulling out some tricks much to the delight of the home support.

Following a seemingly innocuous Livi attack, Nicky Devlin hauled down Duk on a counter-attack, awarding a free-kick to Aberdeen.

However, Walsh was instructed to have a look at the monitor for a potential handball, with a Livi penalty duly awarded.

Kelly stepped up and casually made it two goals in as many games to double Livi’s lead.

Shamal George was in fine form, denying Aberdeen hitman Bojan Miovski on a number of occasions.

The most notable being from the penalty spot, with the visitors being awarded a penalty, again thanks to VAR, with no appeal from the players or travelling fans.

It was very much a game of two halves with Aberdeen coming out firing after the break, eventually getting themselves back in the game just shy of the hour mark when they were awarded a second penalty.

Duk stepped up this time and managed to beat George, despite the keeper’s strong hand on the ball.

That sparked a huge momentum shift and the remainder of the contest was nearly all one-way traffic with Aberdeen carving plenty of chances only to find George in inspired form.

And when they got the better of George, Ayo Obileye appeared on the line to clear as Duk looked destined to make it 2-2.

The forward was a livewire for Aberdeen and really should have equalised late on.

Sub Christian Ramirez threaded through the striker but he fired over as Livi held on for three points.

Match Report: Angus McGregor (Daily Record)

Livingston: George ▊, Devlin ©️ ▊, Obileye, Fitzwater ▊, Montaño (Penrice 72), Sn.Kelly, Holt ▊ (Omeonga 61), Bahamboula (Shinnie 61), Pittman (Boyes 85), Nouble, Anderson (Gonçalves 72)
Subs not used: Konovalov, Longridge, St.Kelly
Goals: Fitzwater (6), Sn.Kelly (17 pen)

Aberdeen: Roos, McRorie ▊ (Kennedy 45), Mackenzie (Coulson 71), Scales, Stewart ©️ (Ramirez 83), Barron ▊, Miovski, Duk, Ramadani ▊, Clarkson (Besuijen 72), Richardson (Watkins 90)
Subs not used: Lewis, Morris, Ravidge, Lobban
Goals: Duk (58 pen)

Referee: Nick Walsh
HT: 2-0
Att: 2,598

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