Hibernian 2-0 Aberdeen: Nick Montgomery's side profit from wasteful visitors
- Published
Will Fish's header sealed Hibs' third consecutive league win
Hibernian took advantage of Aberdeen's profligacy to earn a third successive Scottish Premiership win and consolidate their place in the top six.
Dylan Vente and Will Fish scored either side of half-time for the hosts, but Barry Robson's side will look back in disbelief that they did not take anything from the game.
Bojan Miovski twice hit a post and had a second-half penalty saved by David Marshall, who made several impressive saves on an afternoon where nothing went right for Aberdeen.
Hibs are fifth in the league - two points behind city rivals Hearts in third - while Aberdeen stay 10th.
This was Aberdeen's third game in seven days, and despite making eight changes, Robson's side started like a side feeling the effects of a busy schedule.
Hibs got in behind their back three almost at will, utilising Martin Boyle's pace wherever possible, and it was no surprise when they hit the front on 18 minutes.
Slobodan Rubezic inexplicably ran underneath a Marshall goal-kick, which allowed Boyle through one-on-one with Kelle Roos, and the Australian kept his cool to set up Vente for a tap-in.
Aberdeen were a threat going forward, though, and really should have equalised when Rory Whittaker coughed up possession on the edge of his own box.
Graeme Shinnie found Bojan Miovski completely unmarked at the back post, but the striker could only hit the frame of the goal.
The visitors continued to push for an equaliser after the break, but squandered chance after chance as Marshall's goal led something of a charmed life.
Miovski twice found himself totally unmarked in the box, but again struck an upright and then volleyed wide as Aberdeen piled on the pressure.
However, just when it seemed inevitable that Hibs would concede, they went down the other end and doubled their lead.
Rubezic was once again at fault, as Fish towered over him to head home Boyle's in-swinging corner.
Aberdeen still had chances to take something, but when Miovski's spot-kick was saved following a Lewis Stevenson handball, you got the sense that it was destined to be Hibs' day.
So it proved, as Marshall secured his clean sheet with a sharp injury-time save from Connor Barron.
Player of the match - Martin Boyle
Two assists, and Hibernian's main threat all afternoon. The Australia international has been central to their recent upturn in form. An honourable mention too for David Marshall, who was superb.
Miovski misfires as Hibs find a way - analysis
When these two sides met in the Viaplay Cup semi-final, Hibs played the better football, but lacked an end product and were suckered by Miovski's late strike.
This game was the exact opposite. Aberdeen played some good stuff, opening the home defence up with relative ease, but when their shots weren't blazed high and wide, they were either thwarted by Marshall or struck the woodwork.
You only have to have a quick glance at the stats to see how wasteful Aberdeen were. Their 23 efforts at goal had a total xG value of 3.27, but only five of them were on target.
Miovski is who Robson would have wanted the chances to fall to, and the North Macedonia striker could have scored at least three on another day, but his woes in front of goal summed up a disappointing day.
Hibs were below par but found a way to win. It's a quality that they simply did not have under Montgomery's predecessor Lee Johnson, and it bodes well for their prospects this season.
In a league where most teams struggle to win regularly, grinding out victories is priceless. Hibs did so last weekend at Dens Park, and again here.
What they said
Aberdeen 'could have scored five or six' in defeat
Hibs manager Nick Montgomery: "It wasn't an easy game. Aberdeen are a good side and they played well today.
"I thought in patches we were very good. In patches we switched off and lost concentration but David Marshall stood strong when we needed him.
"We didn't click as much as a we have recently but we are always a threat up front with the pace of Boyle, and Jair is getting better every week. We know we can score goals against any team."
Aberdeen manager Barry Robson: "We controlled most of that game. Anybody watching that wouldn't have been surprised if we had come away scoring five, maybe six.
"I still believe we've not had what we deserve out of games this season. It will come. We've got a good run of games coming, but we need to perform and win those games.
"The players have been unbelievably good in Europe, and then we've been caught out in some of the league games. That's a big learning curve. The real focus is now starting to catch up in the league."
What's next?
Hibs are away to Celtic on Wednesday (19:45 GMT), while Aberdeen host Kilmarnock at the same time.