Aberdeen’s dreary winless run stretched to fourteen games as goals from Nectar Triantis and Nicky Cadden secured the three points for the impressive home side. Thomas Harper sampled the action for us at Easter Road.
Both teams came into this game with contrasting form.
Hibernian’s last loss in the league was away against Celtic last December. David Gray’s men came away from the 3-0 loss feeling like they deserved a lot more from the match, they created a lot of chances against the best team in the country and simply could not put them away. Since then the Hibees have become a very clinical side, with Dwight Gayle especially impressing wherever he was starting or off the bench. The veteran striker has contributed with six-goal involvements since joining the club in September. Martin Boyle and Nicky Cadden have especially impressed for Hibs in recent weeks and would provide a tall order for a Dons defence that struggles to plug their leaky defence.
Aberdeen have not won a single game in the Premiership for nearly three months. Despite a professional 3-0 display away at Elgin, their own 3-0 humping at Pittodrie against St Mirren brought the North East side back down to earth with a massive thud. Their depressing 13-game winless run in the league is the longest in their history, they were desperate to change their fortunes and leapfrog Dundee United into third and looked likely to change up their team selection yet again to find a formula that passes their tough test with flying colours, could they finally convert the chances they create?
Today’s home side were unchanged, keeping the same lineup from their 1-1 draw away to Ross County last week, Elie Youan has been the subject of transfer speculation from Stoke City and Blackburn Rovers and did not make the teamsheet. The visitors decided to change up their defensive options with the out of form duo of Sivert Heltne Nilsen and Slobodan Rubezic dropping out in favour of Ante Palaversa and Alfie Dorrington, who made his first start for the Dons since joining on loan from Tottenham Hotspur last month.
The first half was not full of chances, but both teams threatened each other throughout. Aberdeen looked more likely to score in the first fifteen minutes. Nectar Trianits was dispossessed at around the 4 minute mark, it led to a dangerous tranisition but unfortuenatly for the Dons it led to a blocked shot from Pape Habib Gueye and Leighton Clarkson’s follow up was caught by the keeper Jordan Smith who did not have much to deal with this half. The Dons did a good job of controlling the game through the calm head of Ante Palaversa and Graeme Shinnie’s energy, but the chances created were at best half ones. Jeppe Okkels and Alexander Jensen impressed with their linkup play on the left hand side and Pape Habib Gueye’s free roaming physicality caused issues but the impressive back three of Warren O’Hora, Rocky Bushiri and Jack Iredale dealt with every problem that came their way with composure. Their first real chance came from Chris Cadden, his shot in the 23rd minute was blocked by the Dons defence. Martin Boyle very quickly followed up with a shot of his own that led to a corner to be taken by the Aussie winger. Josh Campbell’s low knockdown was met by Nectar Triantis and Hibs took the lead through their second and only real chance of the half, showing the Dons a clinical edge that they cannot match right now.
Hibs’ continued to play their game at a low tempo, with the Caddens and Boyle throwing in energy when the opoirtunity allowed, Jeppe Okkels’ burning cross led to a Gueye headed half-chance that needed more nous, then the first half ended with a whimper.
There were no changes from either sides but the second half started with a bang for Hibs, a lovely whipped ball from Chris Cadden (with a slight touch from Dwight Gayle) met his masked-up twin brother Nicky Cadden and his back-post header hit off the crossbar but sailed over Ross Doohan’s head. A long VAR check gave hope to the away side but eventually, it was given, a hammer blow for Aberdeen that the away team took as a wake-up call. Hibernian’s midfield were outstanding, in particualr Nectaris Triantis. He was perfectly balanced in his play providing brilliant tackles and creating and scoring chances, something the entire of the Aberdeen team failed to do despite dominating possession in stages. Whenever they had the ball, Aberdeen lacked creativity and looked out of ideas, but you cannot deny that they went for it. Every single one of Jimmy Thelin’s substitutions were attacking-focused, even the full backs with Jack Mackenzie providing half chances through a low cross easily held by Smith and a soft long shot from outside the box that had the same result. It was clear that the Dons tweaked tactics, with Peter Ambrose coming on and former Hibee Kevin Nisbet, who got a huge reaction from the home crowd for obvious reasons. The home team had a penalty shout through Dorrington’s shove on substitute Kieran Bowie but it was denied by referee Don Roberston, he provided a scare for the home team after Triantis’s rough challenge on Ante Palaversa led to a possible red card but a quick VAR check eased those concerns,
Both teams had very good chances to either come back into the game or provide a rubber stamp on an astute performance. Martin Boyle was let in behind by Kwon’s through ball, his one-on-one chance was impressively stopped by the away keeper Ross Doohan. Kevin Nisbet blazed over from inside the box after Alexander Jensen’s brilliant cross was latched onto but lacked composure to finish. The Dons controlled the ball, but could not crack an impressive Hibernian defence. Aberdeen face Dunfermline at home next weekend in the Scottish Cup, while Hibernian face a potentially difficult test away against the Championship league leaders Ayr United.
