Ten-man Hibs lose to Aberdeen at wind swept Pittodrie

Ten man Hibs lost to Aberdeen at a wind swept Pittodrie this afternoon after taking a half-time lead.

Head Coach Jack Ross made two changes to the starting XI
that lost the Edinburgh derby on Tuesday with Steven Whittaker replacing
Stephane Omeonga and Jamie Gullan taking over from the suspended Marc McNulty.

Former Hibs Scottish Cup winning midfielder Dylan McGeouch
started for Aberdeen.

McGeouch quickly demonstrated the skill that made him such a
favourite at Easter Road by creating an early chance then Gullan had a decent
effort from 20-yards which Lewis saved.

Hibs thought they had taken the lead in the 9^th
minute when Christian Doidge’s header from Paul McGinn’s cross was saved by Lewis
although the Welshman and the travelling supporters were convinced that the
ball had crossed the line.

Hibs then had a penalty claim turned down by referee John Beaton
after Martin Boyle was bundled over by Matty Kennedy inside the area.

In the 19^th minute, Gullan took possession of the
ball on the half-way line and outpaced the Dons’ defenders but his shot was
well saved by Lewis.

Aberdeen then started to dominate possession with McGeouch
in particular in fine form.

Niall McGinn almost scored direct from a corner but Ofir
Marciano did well to tip the ball over the bar. Curtis Main then tested
Marciano from close-range but the keeper produced a superb save.

Hibs opened the scoring in the 38^th minute when Lewis
Stevenson won possession and found Scott Allan in midfield. Allan ran forward
before sending a trademark inch-perfect through ball to Doidge who beat the
offside trap and rounded Lewis before scoring from an acute angle.

Whittaker was booked for a barge on Lewis Ferguson then just
before the break Greg Docherty and Ferguson tangled in the box and the home
fans screamed for a penalty but the referee had clearly seen that the Aberdeen man
had a hold of Docherty’s jersey.

Hibs were reduced to 10-men in the 54^th minute
after Whittaker was sent off for a late challenge on Ferguson and from then it
was one-way traffic.

Melker Hallberg replaced Gullan as Hibs chose to go with one
up front but moments later the Dons equalised when McGinn’s cross from the left
was defected into his own net by Adam Jackson.

The hosts took the lead in controversial circumstances when
Aberdeen were awarded a corner kick when it appeared that it was one of their
players who had the final touch. Paul Hanlon protested but the decision stood.
McGinn sent a cross into the danger area and after a stramash Andy Considine tapped
the ball into the net from close range.

Jack Ross’s assistant John Potter was shown a yellow card
for his protests.

Allan was replaced by Omeonga as Hibs tried desperately
fought to get back into the game.

Boyle had a strike blocked then Jackson produced a great
last ditch tackle to deny substitute Bruce Anderson.

Lewis Stevenson was replaced by Daryl Horgan but Aberdeen
wrapped things up with eight minutes remaining. Ferguson produced a superb
piece of skill on the right with a back heel which set up McGinn. He found Anderson
whose shot was blocked but the ball fell to Curtis Main who fired the ball into
the net from eight yards.

McGinn was booked for a late challenge on Kennedy but Beaton
incurred the wrath of the 1000 travelling fans by ignoring a blatant pull back
by Ferguson on Horgan.

Aberdeen: Lewis, Logan, Taylor, Considine, Ojo, McGeouch,
Ferguson, McLennan, Kennedy, McGinn, Main. Subs: Cerney, Hernandez, Devlin,
Campbell, Bryson, Hedges, Anderson

Hibs: Marciano, McGinn, Jackson, Hanlon, Boyle, Whittaker,
Docherty, Stevenson, Allan Gullan, Doidge. Subs: Bogdan, Gray, McGregor,
Hallberg, Omeonga, Horgan, Murray.

Referee John Beaton

Attendance 14,388