Hibernian 0 - 1 Aberdeen

Aberdeen answered the manager's stinging criticism with a great win at Easter Road. The winner came as early as the 5th minute when Morrison grabbed his first goal for the club with a deflected shot. The team defended well throughout the game with Anderson and Diamond outstanding at the heart of the defence. They created several chances themselves at the other end and ran out deserved winners.

Aberdeen made a positive start to the match and carved out the first opening in the 3rd minute when Andersson was at full stretch to deny Tosh. However two minutes later Doumbe was penalised for a foul on Booth and Tosh tapped the free kick to Morrison and the youngster drilled a shot past the keeper to grab his first senior goal for the club. The Dons almost conceded an equaliser in the 9th minute when Diamond was short with a back pass. Preece then fumbled and it was left to goal hero Morrison to boot the ball clear.

The Dons threatened again in the 14th minute when the Hibs defence were forced to scramble another Morrison free kick clear. Three minutes later a quickly taken free kick by Hibs almost caught out the dons defence, but O'Connor's finish was weak and failed to test Preece. In the 20th minute Scott Brown was lucky to escape a yellow card when he took Heikkinen out of the game with a late challenge. The free kick came to nothing as Hibs cleared the danger. Two minutes later the Dons almost added a second when Hinds did well to beat his full back and swing in a dangerous cross. Scott Booth got his head to the ball but could only steer it over the bar.

Hibs were having a lot of the play, but the Dons defence were resolute and the home side were forced to shoot from distance. They were a lot closer in the 28th minute when Heikkinen was harshly penalised and the free kick was just missed by Caldwell at the back post. A minute later the home side were appealing for a spot kick when Caldwell went down in the penalty area as Diamond challenged. The Dons broke in the 34th minute when Booth latched on to a long ball from Anderson. Booth went down in a challenge from Doumbe and as Foster put the defender under pressure he seemed to stumble and Foster was penalised.

Hibs went straight back up to the other end and Diamond was forced to concede the first corner of the match when he scrambled a Riordan cross behind. The home side then had a spell of pressure including a second corner, but the Dons defence held firm under the increasing pressure. In the final minute a half chance opened up for Scott Morrison, but his right-footed shot was way off the target. Then seconds later Hinds was released by Heikkinen after good play by Foster, but the striker delayed and the shot was blocked. Just before the whistle Booth tucked a McGuire cross into the net, but he was well offside.

The Dons were put on the back foot at the start of the second half without actually threatening the goal. The closest was a Murdock header in the 55th minute, which Preece easily saved. The Hibs man then became the first player to be booked when he was cautioned seconds later. Booth should have extended the Dons lead in the 57th minute when he collected a pass and fired in a deflected shot, which was scrambled clear by Andersson. Seconds later Tosh went close with a fierce shot that went inches wide of the target.

Aberdeen went close again in the 61st minute when McGuire released Heikkinen and Andersson was forced to tip the Fin's shot wide for the Dons first corner of the match. The set play came to nothing and the home side started to regain the upper hand, but once again Diamond and Anderson were first to everything ably aided by Morrison and McGuire. Hibs then had a good chance in the 72nd minute when Thomson headed a Smith free kick goalward and Preece made a comfortable save. Muirhead then replaced Hinds as the Dons looked to consolidate. Muirhead made an early impact beating Smith and delivering a dangerous cross that was well gathered by Andersson.

Muirhead again set up another chance in the 78th minute when McGuire released him. Unfortunately Booth was offside as the cross came over. Prunty then replaced Foster two minutes later as the game headed into the dangerous final ten minutes. Zdrilic then replaced Booth with five minutes remaining. With three minutes remaining Prunty was through on goal when he had the legs taken from him by Murdock. The Hibs man should have walked, but Mr. Brines played on and told the young striker to get up.

The Dons should have sealed it in the 88th minute when Tosh and Muirhead broke, but couldn't finish the move as Andersson was down quick to smother the ball. There were three minutes of injury time played, but Aberdeen managed to keep most of the time in the Hibs half. The Dons won an indirect free kick inside the box when Andersson picked up a pass back. Muirhead had a shot, but a sea of legs blocked the ball. Then in the final minute Tosh was the victim of a horrific tackle by Caldwell and the Hibs man was lucky to stay on the park, but only collected a yellow.