Hibernian 0 - 0 Aberdeen

HT Score: Hibernian 0 - 0 Aberdeen

SPL

02/01/2007 | KO: 15:00

Dons claim a share of the points at easter Road

Hibs dominated the first half but Aberdeen created more after the interval and handed Craig Brewster his debut when he replaced Lee Miller in the second half. Brewster's experience looks like it could be invaluable as they chase a European place, but with Rangers winning at Fir Park the Dons slip back into third place and now have Hearts breathing down their neck only a point away in fourth.

Aberdeen kicked off for their first match of 2007 but it was Hibs who threatened first when Beuzelin fired wide in the 2nd minute. Aberdeen settled well though and won the first corner of the match in the 5th minute, but the home side cleared easily. Hibs should have taken the lead four minutes later when Killen beat the offside trap, chipped the ball over Langfield and fortunately for the Dons it went inches wide of the target. Hibs were enjoying the bulk of the play and they went close again in the 13th minute when Foster slipped and Sproule set up Beuzelin again. Once again the Frenchman missed the target.

Clark then had a chance in the 17th minute, but after creating some space for himself he fired a weak effort straight at the young keeper. Two minutes later a weak pass back from Jones almost let Miller in but keeper McNeil was out quick to sweep up. At the other end a deflected Sproule effort produced the home sides first corner. From the set play Langfield saved on the line from Killen and Sproule fired the loose ball into the side net. Then in the 21st minute Lovell went down in the box, but it failed to produce the Dons first spot kick of the season.

Sproule was causing problems and in the 24th minute he pounced on a poor first touch from Mackie, ghosted past Diamond then finished with a weak effort that went well wide of the target. Aberdeen were creating very little at this stage and were struggling to retain possession. Hibs were creating all the chances and in the 34th minute Thomson should have done better when he scooped the ball over the bar from the edge of the box. A minute later the referee failed to play an advantage as Dempsey looked to break. Miller then won a free kick on the edge of the box in the 36th minute but Dempsey fired the ball straight into the wall.

A minute later Mackie scooped the ball over the bar when a Severin throw in caused problems in the home penalty area. Beuzelin collected the first yellow card of the match in the 39th minute after a poor challenge on Diamond. A minute later McNeil was out quickly to block at the feet of Lovell. Hibs cleared the subsequent corner and they broke quickly. Langfield was almost caught out in the 41st minute when Killen charged down a clearance, but the keeper was lucky to collect the loose ball. Chris Clark collected the second yellow of the match for fouling Sproule in the final minute of the half.

Aberdeen were first to threaten in the second half and another long throw from Severin in the 47th minute caused problems for the home side before they scrambled the ball clear. Two minutes later Murphy denied Lovell before Severin was caught by Killen and required lengthy treatment, but failed to win a free kick. Diamond was then forced to clear a Sproule cross as the home side surged forward. Lovell tested McNeil in the 57th minute but the keeper made a comfortable save then on the hour mark Lovell headed a Mackie cross inches wide of the post.

Craig Brewster made his Aberdeen debut when he replaced Lee Miller in the 64th minute and made an immediate impact as he collected a clearance from Langfield and forced the Dons forward. A minute later the veteran striker won the ball in the area and set up Diamond. The defender lost out allowing Hibs to break and Sproule once again tested Langfield. Anderson was forced to block a Benjelloun shot after Sproule broke before Brewster released Lovell and the Englishman was eventually crowded out.

A couple of one-two's between Brewster and Dempsey saw the Dons threaten before a poor pass from Dempsey allowed Hibs to break through Sproule and a Brown shot was deflected inches wide of the target. Maguire replaced Lovell in the 75th minute but the home side were now finishing the stronger and went close in the 81st minute as the Dons were forced to scramble a corner clear. The Dons took a quick short corner in the 83rd minute but Hibs recovered to clear as the match raged from end to end in the closing stages. Aberdeen had a great chance to send in a dangerous free kick in the final minute but the delivery was poor and ran out for a goal kick.

Match Stats:

	Hibs	Dons
Goal Attempts	13	5
On Target	5	4
Corners	3	3
Possession	55%	45%

Hibernian Teamsheet
McNeil, Whittaker, Murphy, Jones, Stewart, Brown, Thomson, Killen (Benjelloun 68), Martis, Beuzelin, Sproule (Shiels 80) Unused Subs:

Bookings: Caution

Beuzelin 39, Caution

Stewart 75

Aberdeen Teamsheet
Langfield, Diamond, Foster, Severin, Anderson, Considine, Mackie, Dempsey, Lovell (Maguire 75), Miller (Brewster 64), Clark.

Unused Subs: Winter, Donald, Smith, Touzani, Soutar.

Bookings: Caution

Clark (45).

Watch Highlights

Attendance: 16,278
Venue: Easter Road, Edinburgh
Referee: Brian Winter

Richard Foster in action this afternoon.

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