Hibs unbeaten run ended with a defeat to Aberdeen at Pittodrie this afternoon thanks to two goals from former striker Kevin Nisbet.
Hibs head coach David Gray named an unchanged starting line-up from last weekend’s 3-0 win over Kilmarnock.
World Cup bound Rocky Bushiri and Nicky Cadden both made the bench.
‘Dons boss Stephen Robinson made five changes to his Aberdeen side after last week’s 2-0 defeat to St Mirren.
In goals, Dimitar Mitov replaced Per Kristian Bratveit. Graeme Shinnie, Topi Keskinen and Marko Lazetic dropped to the bench, and Kenan Bilalovic missed out altogether.
Lyall Cameron, Stuart Armstrong, Toyosi Olusanya and Nisbet all started.
Ahead of the game former Aberdeen and Hibs striker Joe Harper was introduced to the fans.
After an evenly fought opening period, Aberdeen took the lead in the 17th minute.
Emmanuel Gyamfi played a long ball forward, Toyosi Olusanya who went down under the challenge of Grant Hanley.
Referee David Dickinson did not give a penalty right away but was advised to check the monitor.
He did so and pointed to the spot and showed Hanley a red card.
Nisbet made no mistake with the resultant penalty.
Bushiri then replaced Jack Iredale as David Gray reorganised his defence.
Aberdeen had the ball in the net midway though the first=half but Olusanya was well offside and the flag was raised. immediately.
Nisbet then managed to get his head on Alexander Jensen’s cross but Raphael Sallinger saved his effort.
And Jensen then got on the end of Emmanuel Gyamfi’s delivery but smashed it way over the bar from six yards.
Then just before the break Gyamfi assaulted Owen Elding with a forearm smash to the back of his head.
Dickinson was again directed to the monitor but unbelievably decided a yellow card was sufficient leaving the away fans furious.
Shortly after the restart Olusanya dragged a shot wide of the far post then Stuart Armstrong fired just wide.
At the other end Dimitar Mitov came out to smother Owen Elding’s effort but the flag was up.
Jensen then found Afeez Aremu on the edge of the box but his effort flew high over the bar.
The home side doubled their advantage in the 75th minute when Nisbet fired the ball off the underside of the bar. The ball bounced back out but after a VAR check the goal was given.
At the other end Martin Boyle forced Dimitar Mitov into a save at his near post and the ‘Dons held on to secure a rare win.
Hibs go into the post-split fixtures three points behind Motherwell who lost at Tynecastle.
Aberdeen: Mitov, Jensen, Milne, Morrison, Molloy, Gyamfi, Aremu, Cameron, Armstrong, Olusanya, Nisbet.
Substitutes: Bratveit, Shinnie, Milanovic, Palaversa, Lazetic, Kjartansson, Lobban, Bwomono, Keskinen.
Hibs: Sallinger, O’Hora, Hanley, Iredale, Passlack, Chaiwa, Barlaser, Obita, McGrath, Scarlett, Elding.
Substitutes: Smith, Boyle, Newell, C. Cadden, N. Cadden, Andrews, Campbell, Bushiri, Suto.
