Hibernian 0 - 1 Aberdeen

Unbeaten in their opening five games with four wins among them, after their 1-0 victory at St Johnstone last Sunday, Jack Ross also made two changes to his team, Melker Hallberg and Drey Wright replacing Daryl Horgan and Alex Gogic, both missing from the Hibs 20 altogether.

Joe Lewis made a nervy start to the game, uncharacteristically spilling a first minute cross, the ball eventually making its way to the edge of the box, Lewis atoning by grabbing a weak shot at goal from Boyle.

Doig was more ferocious with his 10th minute shot from 25 yards as he ran onto a half cleared corner, the ball swerving dangerously on its way through to Lewis who tipped the ball over. Lewis was in action again six minutes later as Hibs maintained their good start, Wright's crossfield ball finding Boyle who forced a good low save out of the Aberdeen skipper.

Hibs were on top with Scott Allan causing real problems, finding space between the Dons backline and the holding midfielders.

The Dons however could have been in front in the 17th minute though, close give-and-go passing between the flourishing combination of Scott Wright and Hedges getting the Welsh international in on goal, but his low first time shot from around the penalty spot was smothered by Marciano.

Aberdeen were nearly caught by a sharp counter-attack after their own corner broke down in the 22nd minute, Doig rampaging away down the left and spearing a cross through the box though, thankfully, he'd been too quick for his colleagues to keep up with and there was nobody on hand to finish things off.

Hallberg was the next to threaten, drilling a low ball into the box, Allan dummying to leave it running through to Doidge, but his touch was poor and on the turn, he was always falling away from the ball and scooped it over from 16 yards.

Aberdeen were pushed back again as Boyle threatened down the right, a couple of deflections sending the ball bobbling into the air, Lewis forceful to make sure he collected it on the half hour.

Ferguson and McRorie were by now getting a grip of the midfield area.
Determination from Ross McCrorie, playing in midfield, and a clever ball from Wright allowed Marley Watkins to turn into space in the box, driving a right foot shot across the face, Marciano away to his right to save well three minutes later, as the Dons began to threaten while always being aware of the Hibs menace on the break.

A bizarre moment in the Hibees' box won the Dons a penalty in the 39th minute. Boyle took a wild swipe at the ball, missed it completely but caught Watkins, bringing him down to give Ferguson the opportunity to send Marciano the wrong way from the spot and roll in the afternoon's opener.

Four minutes later, McCrorie could have made it two from Kennedy's free-kick from the right edge of the box, McCrorie up well from eight yards out, but he got his angles wrong, getting too much on the ball and heading wide from the centre of the goal. A great chance, the only thing Ross did wrong during a very impressive first half.

As is often the case with Hibs v Aberdeen games, a very entertaining and open first forty-five minutes.

HALF-TIME: HIBERNIAN 0 ABERDEEN 1

The Dons were quick out of the blocks in the second half, Kennedy cutting out a pass just inside the Hibs half then driving forward before firing at goal from 25 yards, Marciano saving comfortably. It heralded a good opening as Aberdeen rolled the hosts back into their own half.

They reacted with a 54th minute change, Allan hooked for Murphy to make his debut. Ferguson went into the book a minute later after slicing down Newell 30 yards out, Hallberg putting the free-kick straight into the wall.

Hedges' flag kick from the left in the 58th minute picked out Scott McKenna 12 yards out, but he got under his header and skied a good chance over the bar as Aberdeen continued to impress and grow in confidence.

There was a let off in the 61st minute though, Wright getting in behind from a fine ball forward from McGinn, choosing to cross rather than take on the shot, his ball through the six yard box going to nobody.

Hibs made another swap as Mallan then joined the fray for Doig in the 64th minute, Wright going to the left-back slot. Aberdeen made their first change three minutes later when Dylan McGeouch replaced Scott Wright.

Hibs made their third and final switch in the 72nd minute as Hallberg was replaced by Gullan. The changing of the guard continued with Main replacing Watkins for Aberdeen in the 74th minute, then Niall McGinn came on for Hedges three minutes later as the game began to lose its way amid all the substitutions.

Main almost made an impact in the 83rd minute, winning the ball in a scramble on the edge of the Hibs box before drifting towards the centre and firing in a low shot that Marciano handled well low down to his left. Next, McGeouch wasn't far away from a goal against his old club in the 87th minute, onto the ball 20 yards out, trying to bend the ball around Marciano who dived away to his left to make a comfortable save at a good height.

Hibs had one last push for goal in added time, lofting the ball into the box, Lewis taking a whack from Porteous as he came to claim it, landing awkwardly and sensibly not rushing to get back on his feet either, helping the clock run down and seeing the Dons to a deserved win.