..as ten men frozen out.

There was no Christmas cheer for the Dons this afternoon as they crashed 2-0 to Hibernian. Aberdeen created all the chances and Hibs grabbed all the goals as Aberdeen stumbled to a third straight defeat. The Dons dominated the opening 40 minutes then lost a goal against the run of play as Stokes was allowed to waltz through and score. Aberdeen again dominated the play after the interval, but lost a strange second goal that had a suspicion of offside about it. The Dons continued to press for a goal, but had no luck in front of goal and when Miller was shown a straight red card in the 82nd minute there was no way back.

Aberdeen kicked off as the heavens opened and snow started to cover the pitch. The referee failed to take the conditions into account as he booked Derek Young in the opening minute for his first challenge. There was no malice in the challenge and the players will be hoping that this is not an early taste of things to come. From the free kick Hibs sent the ball wide from distance. Aberdeen then won a free kick in the 4th minute and they won the first corner. From the set play Miller headed wide as both sides contributed to a lively start.

Thankfully the snow eased and Darren Mackie went close in the 8th minute with a spectacular bicycle kick that was blocked by Bamba with the ball looking net bound. Hibs were denied by Grassi in the 11th minute as they broke quickly after Mulgrew looked to have been fouled. From the subsequent corner Nish put the ball wide. At the other end Paton just failed to find Mackie then he had a fierce shot blocked. In the 15th minute Ma-Kalamby tipped a McDonald shot round the post as Aberdeen increased the pressure.

A minute later Dougie McDonald showed no consistency when he only spoke to Zemmama after a dangerous challenge on Kerr. A Mulgrew free kick was then bundled round the post with the keeper scrambling across his goal. Mackie won another corner in the 24th minute, but the delivery from Mulgrew was poor. Kerr then did well to win the ball before Mulgrew fired wide. Mackie almost caught Ma-Kalamby out in the 28th minute when the ball looked to be floating into the net before the keeper tipped it over the bar. Hibs then survived a goal mouth scramble as Aberdeen did everything but score.

McDonald was penalised for a tight offside decision when he was through one-on-one with the keeper in the 33rd minute. Zemmama’s persistent fouling failed to attract the attention of referee McDonald and Miller was talked to as he was penalised despite Bamba being all over him like a rash. Totally against the run of play Hibs took the lead in the 40th minute as Stokes waltzed through the defence and beat Langfield with a low shot. A minute later Zemmama was guilty of play acting as he rolled about in agony following a challenge from Miller. Aberdeen then failed to convert a late corner as they left the field wondering how they were a goal behind.

Aberdeen started the second half the same way they had finished the first as an early Mulgrew free kick was palmed away by the keeper. In the 48th minute Ma-Kalamby was in action again when he tipped a Foster pile driver over the bar and from the subsequent corner Paton fired high over. McDonald was crowded out in the 50th minute when he was released by Miller, but once again the Dons were hit again against the run of play. A tame Nish shot went across the face of the goal and although the defending was poor Stokes looked suspiciously offside as he tapped the ball into the empty net.

Aberdeen tried to hit back, but they were getting no luck In front of goal. Mackie was then booked and Aberdeen won a series of corners as both Miller and Mulgrew went close. Then on the hour mark Wotherspoon booted the ball off the line. A minute later the stand side assistant referee was given an ironic cheer as he flagged for offside. McDonald tried an audacious chip in the 62nd minute, but it went inches wide of the Hibs goal. Hibs were desperately defending, but the Dons were getting no luck in front of goal. In a rare break from Hibs Mulgrew had to concede a corner in the 68th minute, but nothing came of it. A minute later Wotherspoon took Mackie out of the play when he had a clear run at goal and yet again there was no caution.

Aberdeen failed to take advantage of a Ma-Kalambay slice in the 73rd minute and two minutes later Mulgrew was forced to concede another corner. From the corner Bamba netted with his hand, but the goal was disallowed and Hibs collected their first caution. Maguire replaced Paton in the 77th minute and a minute later Ma-Kalambay was quick to claim the ball at the feet of the substitute after some good intricate play on the edge of the box. Aberdeen seemed to have run out of ideas and any hope of a comeback was extinguished when Miller was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Zemmama.

Murray was then booked for a challenge on Maguire as the game petered out as the Dons struggled to make an impact with ten men. It was another game that produced more debate and fans will be keen to see the second goal and the red card incident again on the TV. It’s now three defeats in a row, but despite the score line this was a good display but lacked finishing. Aberdeen will be looking to turn things around in Paisley on Boxing Day as the chasing pack start to move out of the Dons sights.