Livingston v Aberdeen dramatically called off minutes before kick-off after heavy downpour

Livingston’s Premiership match at home to Aberdeen was called off just minutes before kick-off as heavy rainfall made the artificial pitch at the Tony Macaroni Arena unplayable.

Referee Steven McLean inspects the pitch at Livingston.

Both teams had completed their warm-ups and were preparing to emerge for the start of the match when referee Steven McLean and his fellow officials were forced to inspect the surface due to standing water.

With weather conditions not expected to improve, McLean had no option but to postpone proceedings.

It is the second time the match has fallen foul of the weather, with the original meeting on December 30 scrapped just two hours before kick-off due to a frozen pitch.

Aberdeen will now have to make a third trip from the north east to West Lothian as the games start to pile up for both clubs.

Derek McInnes’ Dons face Ross County next in Dingwall on Saturday, while Livingston travel to Celtic on the same day.