ABERDEEN 1 HIBERNIAN 3
William Hill Premiership
Saturday 21st December 2024
Pittodrie
Ref: Steven McLean
Attendance: 18,375
Despite a strong start to the fixture when Topi Keskinen had them in front, the Dons failed to find the winning formula once again as Hibs stormed back to take all three points at a windswept Pittodrie.
There were four changes to the Aberdeen side that drew 1-1 with St Johnstone a fortnight ago, with returns to the starting XI for Nicky Devlin, Jack MacKenzie, Topi Keskinen and Ester Sokler. Shayden Morris, Kevin Nisbet and Janes McGarry started from the bench, with the injured Jack Milne missing out. With Vicente Besuijen also injured, Dante Polvara was back among the subs as he continued his return from injury.
Hibernian beat Ross County 3-1 at Easter Road last Saturday, but made two changes to their starting XI with Martin Boyle and Josh Campbell replacing Dwight Gayle and former Don Junior Hoilett.
Aberdeen made a rapid start to the game, playing high up in the Hibs half from the outset, a couple of dangerous crosses in the opening minute not finding any takers. A strong breeze off the North Sea made conditions awkward and after that opening burst, it was Hibs who were able to pen the Dons in, in front of the RDS.
Aberdeen rallied though and looked like they were in on goal on 11 minutes, a dangerous pull back from Keskinen finding Sokler, but as he readied himself to shoot from six yards, Bushiri swooped down upon him with a superb block.
Keskinen was sent away again by a brilliant piece of control and then a pass from Leighton Clarkson on 14 minutes, but he wasn’t passing this time. Cutting inside the box from the left, he spotted a route to the far corner and threaded the ball into it with a right foot shot for 1-0.
Hibs were on terms four minutes later though through Youan. A flick header from Campbell set Boyle on the chase, but Slobodan Rubezic looked set to clear. Instead, he missed his kick, allowing Boyle to run on and square for Youan to drill in.
Keskinen nearly found a second goal on 25, trying to bundle his way through after Clarkson floated a clever ball into the box, sheer weight of defensive numbers from Hibs eventually clearing the danger.
The Finn was close again a minute later, stepping inside 25 yards out and curling a vicious shot around Smith but the Hibs goalkeeper was given a reprieve by his far post, the ball smacking the inside it but somehow bouncing away to safety.
Newell was booked for catching Sokler with a leading arm after 33 minutes as they challenged for the ball on halfway.
Nicky Cadden had the visitors ahead after 35 minutes, coming in at the back post to smash in from close range, but it was clever play from Boyle that created it, skipping past Gavin Molloy then heading for the by-line, before standing up a cross that Cadden finished with glee. There were complaints from the men in red, the goal coming after Aberdeen had had a free-kick on the right flank blocked from three yards, the referee giving a throw-in rather than ordering a retake.
There was an escape for Aberdeen in the 43rd minute when Boyle pounced on a loose ball 16 yards out but fortunately, he pushed his shot across the face of goal and wide.
HALF-TIME: ABERDEEN 1 HIBERNIAN 2
With the strong wind behind them Rubezic forced Smith into sharp action in the opening minute of the second half, getting up high to head a Clarkson free-kick back across goal, Smith tipping the ball over. Seconds later, Smith did likewise from a Jamie McGrath cross.
Despite that good start by the Dons, Hibs doubled their lead through Boyle on 49 minutes. A Clarkson pass was cut out by Triantis just inside the Aberdeen half and his precise pass found Boyle in the inside-right slot. He shot across the face of goal and in from just inside the box. Two minutes later, Miller replaced the injured O’Hora.
The Dons went to the bench on 59 minutes, Polvara and Peter Ambrose coming on for Clarkson and Sokler. The injured Newell was replaced by Hyeok-Kyu at the same time.
McGrath clipped a shot wide from a very tight angle at the near post on 65 minutes after good work from Keskinen, as Aberdeen tried to spark a comeback. Sivert Heltne Nilsen was closer two minutes later, a flashing drive from a half cleared corner deflecting off Bushiri and flying just over the bar.
Good possession play from Aberdeen ended with Graeme Shinnie curling in an inviting cross after 71 minutes, but Ambrose got his angles wrong from seven yards out and headed well over the bar. Seconds later, a lovely through ball from Polvara saw Ambrose accelerating away from Bushiri, but he pulled his shot across goal and wide of the target from just inside the box. A third chance cane Ambrose’s way on 76, Keskinen firing in a low cross, but Ambrose flashed his shot over the bar.
Shayden Morris, Duk and Ante Palaversa came on after 77 minutes, Devlin, Heltne Nilsen and Shinnie making way for them, Keskinen going to right-back. Morris was in on the act within two minutes, heading wide at the back post from a good cross by MacKenzie. Keskinen was yellow carded on 86 for a late sliding challenge. Chris Cadden was replaced by Obita on 88.
There was a coming together between Boyle and MacKenzie in the 94th minute, both collecting an extra card for Christmas as the game spluttered to its disappointing end.
Aberdeen: Doohan, Devlin (Morris 77), Molloy, Rubezic, MacKenzie, Shinnie (Palaversa 77), Heltne Nilsen (Duk 77), McGrath, Clarkson (Polvara 59), Keskinen, Sokler (Ambrose 59).
Subs Not Used: Ritchie, Nisbet, McGarry, MacDonald.
Goal: Keskinen (14)
Booked: Keskinen, MacKenzie
Hibernian: Smith, O’Hora (Miller 51), Bushiri, Iredale, Chris Cadden (Obita 88), Triantis, Newell (Hyeok-Kyu 60), Nicky Cadden, Campbell, Boyle, Youan.
Subs not used: Bursik, Hoilett, Gayle, Moriah-Welsh, Amos, Levitt.
Goals: Youan (18), Nicky Cadden (35), Boyle (49)
Booked: Newell, Boyle
