Hibs started the weekend in third place, dropped to fifth after yesterday’s results, but returned to third with a tremendous away victory over Aberdeen at Pittodrie this afternoon.
David Gray kept faith with the same starting XI that beat Livingston convincingly last weekend.
He made one change to his substitute’s bench with Kanayo Megwa coming in to replace Dylan Levitt, who missed out through illness.
Alasana Manneh and Joe Newell both missed out as they make their way back to full fitness.
Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin made three changes.
Gavin Molloy started at left wing-back, Ante Palaversa in midfield and former Hibs striker Kevin Nisbet up front replacing Marko Lazetic, Topi Keskinen and Graeme Shinnie.
First chance fell to Molloy but he fired over the crossbar. At the other end Nicky Cadden tried his luck from distance but his effort was well off target.
Jesper Karlsson and Kevin Nisbet then link edup on the edge of the box and teed up Adil Aouchiche but he dragged the shot wide.
Dan Barlaser found Josh Mulligan in a pocket of space and he shot from the edge of the box, forcing Mitov into tipping the ball around the post.
Karlsson then gambled from outside the area, but Raphael Sallinger gathered with ease.
The home fans shouted for a penalty after Molloy set up Karlsson, whose shot is blocked by what looks like a Hibs defender’s hand, but Molloy was offside in the build up.
Hibs then took the lead in the 36th minute when Thibault Klidje was played through by Mulligan and showed great composure under pressure from Nicky Devlin by slotting the ball past the ‘Dons keeper Dimitar Mitov to the delight of the travelling support.
The Aberdeen players claimed that Stuart Armstrong had been fouled in the build up, but referee Don Robertson awarded the goal.
Moments later Kieron Bowie’s strike from the left was blocked, and the danger cleared.
Aberdeen made a triple change for the second-half with Alfie Dorrington, Leighton Clarkson and Nicolas Milanovic replacing Alexander Jensen, Ante Palaversa and Adil Aouchiche.
Hibs had a penalry claim when Bowie went down in the box under a challenge from Mats Knoester but referee Robertson after a long look decided against it.
Hibs almost doubled their lead moments later. Klidje’s shot was saved by the keeper and when he tried to tuck in the rebound, Knoester blocked and the ball fell to Bowie, who fired low strike but Knoester cleared the shot off the line.
Nisbet was replaced by Marko Lazetic then Sallinger was called into action with a fine save from Leighton Clarkson.
Mulligan fired over from the edge of the box as Hibs looked for a second and Gray brought on Miguel Chaiwa and Martin Boyle replacing Bowie and Chris Cadden.
Nicky Cadden whipped a cross in from the left, which Boyle somehow missed but the flag was up to spare his blushes.
Josh Campbell replaced Jamie McGrath for the last 20-minutes then moments later Rocky Bushiri replaced Warren O’Hora who had taken a knock.
Aberdeen continued to press forward and Clarkson found Nicolas Milanovic, but his first touch let him down and he fouled Campbell trying to get to the ball.
At the other end Boyle sprint into the box and set up Campbell and his powerful effort rebounded off the post.
Aberdeen sprint up the pitch and Lazetic ended up one-on-one with Sallinger but the Hibs keeper produced the save.
With eight minutes remaining Elie Youan replaced goalscorer Kildge.
Boyle then nutmegged Dorrington but his effort flew inches wide as Hibs looked to wrap things up.
They almost did that when Boyle skipped past two tackles and looked certain to score, but his curled effort goes over from just a few yards out
With three minutes remaining, Hibs finally got the much deserved second goal. Youan collected the ball from his own half, ghosted past two defenders and almost rounded Mitov before sliding the ball into the net.
In added time the Hibs fans thought they had a third when Campbell tapped home a Boyle cross but the ‘goal’ was ruled out by VAR.
The Dons’ ran up the park and pulled one back with a scrappy goal from Lazetic.
But it was too little too late and the points went south to Easter Road.
The result means that Hibs are now only three-points behind Celtic.
Aberdeen: Mitov, Jensen, Devlin, Knoester, Milne, Molloy, Armstrong, Palaversa, Aouchiche, Karlsson, Nisbet.
Substitutes: Suman, Shinnie, Polvara, Clarkson, Milanovic, Dorrington, Lazetic, Kjartansson, Keskinen.
Hibs: Sallinger, O’Hora, Hanley, Iredale, C Cadden, Mulligan, Barlaser, McGrath, N Cadden, Bowie, Klidje.
Substitutes: Smith, Youan, Boyle, Chaiwa, Obita, Hoilett, Megwa, Campbell, Bushiri.
