Hibs produced their finest performance of the season this afternoon to record their biggest league win over Aberdeen since 1957.
Head Coach Jack Ross made two changes to the starting XI that lost to Ross County in midweek with fans’ favourite Ofir Marciano returning in place of Chris Maxwell whilst Vykintas Slivka made way for Stevie Mallan.
Hibs started brightly and almost took the lead in the second minute after Jason Naismith’s cross from the right was cleared into the path of Mallan but the midfielder’s goal-bound strike was tipped round the post by Joe Lewis.
The visitors fought back and Marciano demonstrated why he was brought back into the team with a superb save from Sam Cosgrove.
Aberdeen should have opened the scoring after James Wilson broke clear but Marciano produced a fine save which fell to Cosgrove then did well to block the striker’s effort from close range.
Hibs continued to press forward but the Dons looked dangerous on the break and Ryan Porteous made three superb interceptions to keep the score level.
The referee incurred the wrath of both sets of supporters and left the field at the break to a chorus of boos.
Hibs took the lead seven minutes after the restart when Scott Allan threaded a sublime pass through the Don’s defence and Scott McKenna lost the run of Martin Boyle, who calmly dribbled the ball past Lewis and tapped it into the empty net.
Allan then showed his undoubted ability picking out Kamberi and Boyle, who both had efforts from inside the penalty area.
Aberdeen made a triple change and moved to a back three but moments later a tremendous pass from Florian Kamberi found Boyle who held off the challenge of Andrew Considine and slipped the ball under Lewis to grab his second of the day.
The home fans celebrated even though they were aware that Hibs had lost two-goal leads at home three times this season but their nerves disappeared when Kamberi cut in from the right and beat three defenders before firing the ball low into the bottom corner of the net, sparking wild scenes from three sides of the stadium.
In the dying minutes, a fantastic tackle from Paul Hanlon on Cosgrove ensured only the second clean sheet of the season.
The result sees Hibs consolidate sixth place in the table.
After the final whistle a delighted Ross told BBC Scotland: “The calibre of the our goals were really good. Working on getting the balance right is the key aspect for us, and we’re getting there.
“I hope they’ll take belief from today. We’re setting standard in training and we’re setting them in games now.”
Hibs: Marciano, Naismith, Porteous, Hanlon, Stevenson, Hallberg, Boyle, Mallan, Allan, Kamberi, Doidge. Subs: Horgan, Slivka, James, Jackson, Maxwell, Shaw, Murray.
Aberdeen: Lewis, Taylor, McKenna, Considine, Logan, Ferguson, Vyner, Gallagher, Leigh, Cosgrove, Wilson. Subs: Devlin, Main, Hedges, McLennan, Cerny, Campbell, Anderson.
Referee Colin Stevens
Attendance 16,767
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.
