A series of missed chances cost Hibs all three points against Aberdeen at Pittodrie this afternoon.
Head Coach Paul Heckingbottom made two changes to the starting XI that drew with Celtic last weekend. Ryan Porteous took the place of Adam Jackson, who missed out through injury whilst Daryl Horgan replace Glenn Middleton.
Hibs should have taken an early lead when Horgan set up Christian Doidge but his shot was saved by Joe Lewis.
Tom James then went close with a free-kick from distance as Hibs dominated possession.
Stevie Mallan was next to test Lewis who was able to save his free-kick at the second attempt.
Aberdeen eventually got back into the game and tested the Hibs defence with a series of corner kicks before Maxwell did well to save from Lewis Ferguson shortly before the break.
Hibs took a deserved lead three minutes after the restart when Mallan’s corner found James and the full-back’s strike deflected into the path of Porteous who stabbed the ball into the net to the delight of the large travelling support.
Hibs should have made it 2-0 moments later following a mistake by Shay Logan which allowed Doidge another one on one chance but again Lewis produced a superb save to deny the striker.
In the 54th minute Aberdeen were reduced to ten men when Curtis Main lunged in on Mallan with his studs showing and referee Don Robertson immediately produced the red card.
Melker Hallberg’s through-ball set up Doidge once again but Lewis stood tall and made the save to keep the deficit at one.
Aberdeen brought on Jon Gallagher and Niall McGinn in an effort to get back into the game and th move almost paid dividends when Gallagher fired just wide.
James then went close with a fierce shot from 20 yards which flew inches over the bar.
With 15-minutes remaining Hibs passed up a great chance to secure the three points when Doidge went through on goal. This time Scott Allan was unmarked on his left but instead of setting up his team mate for a tap in, the striker fired the ball straight at Lewis.
Moments later Doidge was replaced by Florian Kamberi whilst Hallberg made way for Joe Newell.
Despite being a man short, the Dons looked the more likely to score in the latter stages.
Substitute McGinn struck the post and Ferguson headed wide from a corner kick, as the Hibs’ fans held their breath.
Sam Cosgrove was extremely fortunate to remain on the pitch following a kick-out on Glenn Middleton after already having been booked but the referee showed leniency
Moments later Cosgrove outjumped the Hibs defenders to score an ill-deserved equaliser.
In time added on Middleton set up Kamberi but the striker’s shot flew over the bar.
In the dying seconds Aberdeen were reduced to nine men when Ferguson was given shown a red card for a bad challenge on Mallan.
After the game Heckingbottom told BBC Scotland: “It’s beginning to be the same story. We were good, excellent with and without the ball, stood up to Aberdeen’s threats. It’s a story of missed chances, should have put the game to bed, and it would have been an easy run-in.
“Credit to Aberdeen, they made the subs and went for it, but even then, they weren’t really creating anything and it’s a set-play that’s cost us.”
Aberdeen: Lewis, Logan, Leigh, Considine, McKenna, Ferguson, Campbell (Gallagher 65’), Ross (McGinn 65’), Hedges, Cosgrove, Main. Substitutes not used: Cerny, Vyner, Devlin, McLennan, Anderson.
Hibernian: Maxwell, Hanlon, Vela, Horgan (Middleton 70’), Doidge (Kamberi 78’), Mallan, Stevenson, James, Hallberg (Newell 78’), Allan, Porteous. Substitutes not used: Marciano, Whittaker, Naismith, Shaw.
Referee: Don Robertson.
Attendance: 13,880.
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
