Match Report

Full Time: Aberdeen 1 Hibernian 2

(Miller 40 Pen)  (Riordan 33, pen 79)

A wet and windy Pittodrie welcomed the players onto the pitch with both teams looking for a win to kick start their season. It was a scrappy opening as both teams looked to get into their stride. In the 11th minute Riordan found space but his shot was deflected wide for a corner. Aberdeen’s first attack was in the 12th minute when a long Langfield clearance over the defence saw Mackie and Bamba tussle for the ball. The ball broke accross the box but Aberdeen couldn’t capitalise.

In the 14th minute Mackie played in Foster with a clever pass. He ran in clear on goal but his shot was blocked by Ma-Kalamby high to the goalkeepers left. Mulgrew’s 15th minute free kick out wide tested the Hibs defence but Ma-Kalamby collected.

Hibs almost took the lead in the 19th minute when Fletcher cleverly spun his marker. He played in Nish who should of done better than to hit a left shot which flew harmlessly wide. Aberdeen’s reply was a Mackie half volley in the 20th minute which Ma-Kalamby did well to get down low to.

An ambitous effort in the 21st minute 30 yards out from Fletcher was saved by Langfield. Stevenson was next to threaten as he drifted past Kerr easily out wide on the touchline. His cut back was drilled wide from Riordan much to Langfield’s relief.

Aberdeen almost took the lead in the 24th minute when Aluko found Miller, he powered in a great effort from the edge of the box which Ma-Kalamby scrambled clear for a corner. In the 27th minute a great ball from Mulgrew found Mackie, his cross met the head of Miller who was then clattered accidentaly by the onrushing Ma-Kalamby. Aberdeen continued to pressure and a good passing spell from the home side finished with Severin finding Aluko who cut in and drilled high over on his right foot.

Aberdeen gifted Hibs the lead in the 32nd minute. Mair collected the ball in defence and tried to lay the ball back to Langfield. His pass was short and he didn’t see the onrushing Riordan who collected the present, rounded Langfield and finished well from an acute angle. Severin almost got the Dons on level terms within a minute when he found space on the left hand side of the box but again he couldn’t beat the Hibs goalkeeper who blocked well.

Aberdeen almost gifted Hibs a second goal in the 38th minute when Mair’s loose pass found Rankin. He released Fletcher and the hitman blazed over with his left foot with the goal at his mercy. Aberdeen got the equaliser they deserved in the 40th minute after a neat interchange between Foster, Hodgkiss and Kerr. Kerr’s final pass found Miller who was bundled over in the box by Bamba who was lucky not to receive any further punishment and escaped a card. Miller brushed himself down and stepped up to blast the ball down the middle much to the delight of the Aberdeen fans.

Aberdeen were on the ascendacy and when Miller cut the ball back in the 43rd minute, Kerr drilled inches wide from the edge of the box.

Nish was booked a minute before the interval for back chat as Hibs looked rattled. A 35 yard free kick from Mulgrew almost caught out Ma-Kalamby at his near post on half time but he managed to grasp the ball.

Aberdeen were first to attack in the second half. Miller was pulled down by Jones in the 48th minute and Mulgrew’s free kick was headed away by Jones to avert the danger. Aluko blasted over after he was found in the 50th minute by Hodgkiss as Aberdeen looked for a second goal.

A Mulgrew corner in the 57th minute was headed accross the box by Severin. The ball broke to Kerr and when his shot was blocked it dropped to the feet of Mulgrew whose left foot blast was high and wide.

Aberdeen replaced Mackie with Maguire in the 67th minute and Hibernian made their first change when Shiels took the place of Thicot. In the 75th minute a clever Hodgkiss chip over the defence found Maguire but the youngster’s touch let him down and Ma-Kalamby collected. Nish came close for Hibs a minute later when Rankin found Nish unmarked at the back post. His header back accross goal drifted inches wide.

Jimmy Calderwood replaced Hodgkiss with Young in the 78th minute with Foster moving back to right back as they looked for a winner. Within a minute Hibs took the lead. A suspiciously offside Nish was played through on goal and when Langfield blocked his chip the ball broke to Riordan whose half volley from the edge of the box ricocheid off a hibs player onto the arm of Mulgrew on the line who was given his marching orders. Riordan stepped up to take the penalty and sent Langfield the wrong way for Hibs and his own second goal.

With Aberdeen pushing forward with ten men looking for an equaliser it left gaps in the defence. Fletcher was was found free in the box in the 83rd minute but he hit wide and Nish also could have sealed the win a minute later but he shot over.

Severin was booked for a lunge on Jones in the 88th minute. Riordan almost completed his hat trick when he miskicked his volley at the back post. The game drew to a close and an unlucky Aberdeen were left to wonder how they left without any points.

Aberdeen: Langfield, Mulgrew, Foster, Diamond, Severin, Kerr, Miller, Mackie, (Maguire 67) Hodgkiss, (Young 78) Mair, Aluko

Subs: Bossu, McDonald, Wright, Duff, Considine