Willo’s late wonder strike wins it.
Hibernian 0
SPFL Scottish Premiership | Pittodrie | Fri 10th Dec | 7.45pm | Att 12,734 | FT
Aberdeen again had to rely on a late goal, and what a goal it was, but they beat Hibs 1-0 to record another very good victory.
In the early stages the Dons did not get into their stride and twice Jamie Langfield had get off his line quickly to save at the feet of Heffernan. On one of the occasions the Hibs striker got between Reynolds and the keeper and when he went to ground all eyes were on referee Craig Thomson but he waved play on. Heffernan made no issue of the decision so the striker himself was maybe not convinced he had been fouled.
On 26 minutes the Dons should have had a penalty. Pawlett was played in and got the by-line before dinking the ball back. His cross looked to be landing at the feet of Vernon or the on rushing McGinn but Michael Nelson stuck out an arm to knock the ball to safety. Ref Thomson waved play on.
The Edinburgh side, who were very well organised, had done their homework on the Dons and pressed them all over the pitch. Eventually in each half the Dons got on top but the visitors also defended well and dealt with all the balls that were put into the area.
Aberdeen tried a lot of ways to unlock the Hibs defence but in the end the goal came from an unlikely source. On 86 minutes McGinn did well to beat his man and played the ball into the danger zone but again it was cleared out of the area and landed at the feet of Willo Flood about 30 yards out. He then hit a shot which just flew past everyone into the net. What a goal!! His shot was hit like a missile. Ben Williams never even moved.
The Dons then held out comfortably for the win.
Dons boss Derek McInnes made two changes to the side that defeated Kilmarnock last Sunday. In came Joe Shaughnessy while new signing Alan Tate made his debut for the club. They replaced Russell Anderson, who drops to the bench, and Michael Hector who has returned to Reading following the end of his loan spell at Pittodrie.
Aberdeen Team | Langfield, Shaughnessy, Tate, Reynolds, Flood, Jack, Robson, Pawlett, Hayes (Anderson 88′), McGinn (Magennis 90+1), Vernon (Zola 83′)
Substitutes not used | Weaver, Murray, Smith, Wylde
RedWeb match report | please click here
RedImages | please click here
Quotes from the press room | please click here
REDTV | Post Match Reaction
Derek McInnes | please click here
Willo Flood | please click here
Alan Tate | please click here
