As Aberdeen moved into the top three with a convincing win over Hibernian, manager Derek McInnes was quick to praise a thoroughly professional job from his side from front to back.

“We wanted to put our attacking players on the pitch and we did that with the two wing-backs and a front three effectively. When you do that, you have to recognise that they have a real threat with their front two in particular. We needed to control Nisbet and Doidge and we did that really well. Joe hasn’t had a lot to do and that’s testament it the work that went on in front of him.

“I thought we defended set plays well, there was good aggression about our defending and that was pleasing. That was a big part of our win because Hibs are a side that can score goals and you need to keep them in check, keep your concentration and we did that.

“Matty Kennedy has been out a long time before the game last weekend and tonight, we gave him a real job to do playing against Boyle. He was with him step for step right the way through the whole game and the responsibility that he and Connor McLennan showed on the other side against Murphy was really pleasing.

“I think the two goals that we scored early on were due reward for a high intensity press, turning the ball over high up the pitch, and we’ve been getting a lot of success from that this season. There were good goals too, a lovely pass from Lewis Ferguson into Scott Wright who finishes it off and Sam Cosgrove’s finish is top class. Understandably, he’s still getting up to speed but to get him back on the scoresheet, it was a good night’s work.

“Scott’s always shown flashes of what he can be, but there’s responsibility that comes with that position. It’s not a free role behind the striker, there’s work to do in both directions. Both him and Ryan Hedges have grown into that this season. They’ve been very good at closing down the opposition from the front and putting pressure on, but they also have to produce goals and assists and they’re doing that.

“That was Scott’s second goal and he’ll be disappointed he hasn’t got six or seven by now but as long as he keeps arriving and getting in good areas, they’ll come. It pleases me no end that he got his goal tonight because that’s part of his job in that position and it can only be good for his confidence. He’s become a very important player for us, but he knows he has to keep being that player every week.”

After that high octane start, the Dons retained complete control of the game through the 90 minutes, Hibs offering no real signs that they might get back into the game, so thoroughly did Aberdeen smother them.

“There was good understanding of the game from us after we were 2-0 ahead. We were happy for them to come onto us and have the ball, but we pressed at the right times and we could have had more goals maybe. There were two or three chances, Scott Wright was through on goal when Hanlon brings him down and there’s nobody else coming across to defend. We forced mistakes from them, and I thought it was a very solid performance right through the game.

“We’re in the top three, 26 points after 12 games is a very good start, very encouraging. If we can replicate that across the rest of the campaign we’re on course for a season we could be pleased with but it is only a start. I have to stress that. We’ve good players, a good squad, on the bench we have answers to questions that come up in games, it’s encouraging as I say. But I feel there’s more in us.”