Hibernian Secures Victory Over Aberdeen in Scottish Premiership

Hibernian delivered a strong second-half performance to defeat Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership, extending their lead over their opponents to six points at Easter Road.

The first half was marked by an injury to Hibs' stand-in captain, Martin Boyle, and a lackluster display from both teams. However, David Gray's side emerged from the locker room with renewed determination.

Thibault Klidje scored the opener following a well-executed play involving Jamie McGrath and Elie Youan, which effectively dismantled Aberdeen's defense.

From that moment, Hibernian appeared to be in control of the match. Aberdeen's Kevin Nisbet managed to score from close range, but his effort was disallowed due to a very tight offside decision. In stoppage time, Hibs secured their victory when Junior Hoilett's shot slipped under Dimitar Mitov.

With this win, Hibs now sit six points ahead of Aberdeen in the race for a top-half finish and potential European football, while Jimmy Thelin's side finds itself slipping into the lower half of the table.

Analysis of Hibernian's Performance

Following an exhilarating derby win against Hearts, Hibernian faced the challenge of maintaining their intensity and achieving consecutive league victories for the first time since early November.

The subdued atmosphere, compounded by the absence of the energetic Kieron Bowie due to illness and Boyle's early exit from the match, contributed to a lackluster first half. However, Hibs significantly improved in the second half, with Josh Mulligan and Josh Campbell playing pivotal roles in driving the team forward and creating opportunities against Aberdeen's back three.

The crucial first goal came from a rapid counter-attack, as Aberdeen lost possession, allowing Youan to advance and combine with McGrath before setting up Klidje for the finish.

Hoilett's second goal, a gift from Mitov, was a deserved reward for Hibs based on their overall performance and chances created.

Concerns for Aberdeen

For Aberdeen, concerns continue to mount regarding their style of play under Thelin. Although the switch to a back three initially provided stability and results after a difficult start to the season, the team has struggled to find offensive momentum.

Currently among the lowest scorers in the Premiership, Aberdeen lacks a clear strategy for creating scoring opportunities. A shift to a back four in the latter stages of the match showed some improvement as they sought an equalizer, with Nisbet unfortunately being flagged offside during the build-up to his disallowed goal. However, they managed only two shots on target and failed to apply sustained pressure on Hibs.

Thelin typically favors a 4-2-3-1 formation but had to abandon it due to poor results. There is speculation about whether he might revert to this formation in the New Year to inject much-needed attacking vigor into the team.

Upcoming Matches

Next, Hibernian will visit struggling Kilmarnock on Saturday at 15:00 GMT, while Aberdeen will also be on the road facing Falkirk at the same time.

Hibernian Secures Victory Over Aberdeen in Scottish Premiership

Topics

Related news