Stephen Glass cut a frustrated figure after Aberdeen went down by the game’s only goal to Hibernian at Easter Road.

“Any game you lose, you’re always disappointed but tonight, we looked like we lacked a bit of energy. That’s especially frustrating, coming off the back of three wins and with the opportunity to be fresh after 11 days since we last played.

“I felt we were comfortable defensively in the first half but I didn’t think we were threatening enough. They were more comfortable in keeping the ball than I would have liked, and I thought we could have more impetus from the change to bring on Calvin at half-time. The start of the second half showed that but we didn’t continue in that way.

“The game became scrappy, there weren’t a huge number of chances. I don’t think either team did enough to win in open play but we lost a poor goal from a set piece.

“I felt there was a foul on Declan from the first corner that he headed away. He was getting watched like a hawk for blocking at the other end, yet when he was defending at our end of the pitch, it was ok to knock him over and for us not to get a free-kick. But that’s not what cost us the goal, Declan lost his man – but if we get the free-kick, there’s no second corner.

“From here, we owe ourselves and our supporters a better performance on Boxing Day than we gave tonight. We’d won three in a row, the boys were feeling good about themselves and we wanted to keep that going at Hibs. We didn’t and so it’s even more important we go into the break on the back of a win. With Hibs playing Dundee United on Sunday, there’s an opportunity to jump up the table again and we need to take it.”

Commenting on the news that the winter break has been brought forward, Glass admitted to mixed feelings about the Boxing Day game going ahead in front of what looks set to be a limited crowd.

“I think it makes sense to bring the winter break forward but I thought it would have been brought forward further to include Boxing Day because in my opinion, there’s certainly scope to squeeze one extra game in later in the season. It’s a shame that a game has to be played with such a small crowd when we could have played it later on with supporters there.

“We saw the appetite people have to come and watch a game with the supporters at Easter Road tonight, they felt they were safe. We don’t make the rules, we just have to get on with it.

“The chairman has asked the First Minister to delay the reduction in crowds until midnight on Boxing Day and I hope that can happen, a lot of clubs in Scotland would like to see that.

“A lot of people are home for Christmas, seeing family for the first time in a long, long time and I’m sure a lot of them would like the chance to go to a football match with family and friends if they feel safe enough. Over 14,000 people tonight felt it was appropriate to come to the game, so it would be nice if they could have that choice on Boxing Day.”

“A lot of people are home for Christmas, seeing family for the first time in a long, long time and I’m sure a lot of them would like the chance to go to a football match with family and friends if they feel safe enough. Over 14,000 people tonight felt it was appropriate to come to the game, so it would be nice if they could have that choice on Boxing Day.”