Hibernian 0-1 Aberdeen

Aberdeen continued their unbeaten start to the Premiership season with victory over Hibernian at Easter Road.

Vykintas Slivka hit the post for Hibs in a first half that raged from end to end, but it was Aberdeen who went ahead when Gary Mackay-Steven beat the offside trap to score.

Hibs had chances with John McGinn a constant menace and Martin Boyle having a shot deflected wide.

Danny Swanson twice went close but Aberdeen held on for the three points.

The win means Derek McInnes' side remain level on points with Celtic, who they face next at Pittodrie.

Hibs were desperate to build on the momentum picked up following their 2-2 draw at Celtic Park before the international break, but standing in their way was an Aberdeen team who have picked up eight wins in their last nine away games.

On paper this fixture promised so much and from the start, the near capacity crowd was treated to an intriguing and entertaining contest.

Gary Mackay-Steven (right) scores the only goal of the game for Aberdeen

Those in red were delivering the more incisive passes, though, and Adam Rooney and MacKay-Steven should have done better when presented with good opportunities before the half hour.

But Hibs are a team full of belief these days and Slivka thought he had done enough to give his side the lead, but his curled effort from eight yards battered off the Aberdeen post.

The open nature of the play suggested a goal would come, and it did when Kenny McLean picked the ball up in the middle of the park and played a sumptuous through ball to the Mackay-Steven who had anticipated the pass.

The former Celtic and Dundee United winger kept his composure and simply slipped the ball neatly under the outrushing Ross Laidlaw to put his side ahead.

Anthony Stokes forced a great save from Aberdeen goalkeeper Joe Lewis just after the re-start; scampering across his goal line to parry away the Irishman's curling free-kick that was clearly heading into the back of the net.

It quickly settled back into the ding-dong battle on show in the first half and Rooney watched his overhead kick sail just over the bar.

The home side looked desperate to avoid defeat, but despite pushing and starting to dominate their final ball continued to let them down.

Once again McGinn pulled their strings in the midfield and substitutes Swanson and Simon Murray made a difference when they came on - the former twice dancing into the Aberdeen box before being thwarted just before he could get a shot away.