Hibs rue missed chances against Aberdeen at Pittodrie

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.