Tough to take ref with the smooth
NICKY DEVLIN admitted Livingston were in danger of losing their cool against Aberdeen after seeing a string of refereeing decisions go against them.
Livi claimed for four penalties and got none.
Devlin was bundled over late on and with a minute left Jack MacKenzie looked to handle in the box.
Yet referee Grant Irvine waved play on and Devlin said: “There was stuff outside our control that went against us, which was really disappointing.
“Especially the handball one, it seems so obvious when you see it back.
“Big decisions like that really matter. They can be the difference between taking a point or maybe going on to win the game.
“It’s frustrating and you end up saying stuff to the referee you shouldn’t. But when it’s so obvious...
“It’s not just the referee because there are four officials there.
“There were a few decisions where I just don’t know how they came to the conclusion they did.
“You can obviously get frustrated and you end up concentrating on that more than you should be.
“You’ve got to try not to let that affect you but when they’re so blatant and obvious it’s hard not to get wound up about it.”
Livi dropped to sixth in the table on goal difference behind St Johnstone.
The pair face each other on the last day of the season in what could be a shoot-out for fifth.
If Hibs win the Scottish Cup that would be enough for a place in Europe.
Devlin said: “It would be massive to finish fifth.
“We would have taken sixth before the season but we are still aiming for fifth.
“We just have to focus on ourselves and whatever happens will be a bonus.”