Hibernian’s rise in Scottish Premiership form continued with a Martin Boyle-inspired 3-1 win over Aberdeen.
The striker scored once and set up two more for Elie Youan and Nicky Cadden as the visitors hit back from Topi Keskinen’s opener for the Dons.
The Dons are rejuvenated after a free week and introduced Jack MacKenzie into their starting eleven after an injury. It is one of four changes from the team that drew with St Johnstone two weeks ago.
Hibs made two changes to their attack. Boyle and Josh Campbell replaced veteran pair Junior Hoilett, while Dwight Gayle was sent down to the bench.
At a windy Pittodrie, the home side were quick to get out of the trap with a pair of teasing low crosses and set the scene to attack, but it was probably Hibs who adapted better to the situation and kept the Dons pinned for some time. First half.
It was the home side who had a clear goal for the first time when Keskinen picked out Ester Sokler and his effort was saved by Rocky Bushiri. A defender caught the attacker, which was reviewed by VAR, but no penalty was awarded.
Nicky Cadden and Chris Cadden celebrate at Pittodrie.
The home side took the lead after 14 minutes, when Leighton Clarkson fired home Keskinen down the left. The winger could have gone straight at Sokler, but he did well to position himself before slotting into the bottom right corner of the net.
Hibs responded almost immediately and directly. A long clearance from goalkeeper Jordan Smith was made by Campbell and after Slobodan Rubezic was given a breath of fresh air as he tried to clear, Boyle unselfishly headed straight for Youan to slip home from eight yards. I did it.
Keskinen was in good spirits and always looked dangerous when Aberdeen could give him the ball, sending a superb 20-yard curling effort inside the post after 26 minutes.
But when Boyle scored his second goal, it was Heaps who took control. This time he deceived Gavin Molloy and headed an incoming Cadden cross past Ross Doohan to the back post 10 minutes before the break.
And Boyle himself scored his third goal early in the second half. Clarkson’s loose pass in midfield was blocked by Nectarios Triantis and the Australia international fired low past the helpless Doohan.
Aberdeen’s Slobodan Rubezic will feature full-time on Saturday.
Aberdeen now had the wind in their favor and were pressing to get back into the game, but it took them a while to register a genuine effort when Sivert Heltne Nilsen’s deflected shot spun over the bar.
Substitute Peter Ambrose should have done better shortly afterwards to head in Nicky Devlin’s cross, and the striker had a goal of his own when he latched onto Dante Polvara’s excellent through ball. I thought I got it out, but it was way off the far post.
An injury-time scuffle broke out as Boyle and MacKenzie clashed for the ball, and both received yellow cards for a waste of money, but Hibs eventually comfortably held off the hosts.
manager
Aberdeen president Jimmy Thelin:
“Football is a team sport and mistakes are bound to happen in the game, but they can’t lead to serious injury – that’s a sign that you’re unbalanced or not covering for each other as a team.
“We have to continue to work as a staff and with the players to focus on this. There were some good parts of today’s game, but there were too many bad points that I don’t care if it puts us in a difficult situation.”
“Even if we win games that may not be our best performances, we know we have to improve and the only way to do that is to perform in training sessions and matches.
“We’re not there yet, but we’re on the right track, even if it feels bad when we don’t get results.”
hib president david gray:
“It’s a great result and a huge achievement. I’d like to give full credit to the players for their performance over the course of 90 minutes. They started well but lost a poor goal and then showed tremendous character again. We used the conditions really well and I’m very grateful to all the players. A man who I thought was exceptionally good at it.
“The players have to take credit and confidence from that, but it’s been building for some time, not just this week.
“We knew the atmosphere would be the same, but we managed the game well and kept the crowd quiet. It was not a day for pretty football and the players understood that.”
