Hibernian 2 - 0 Aberdeen - match report

Published on Saturday 31 October 2009 17:35

A superb header just two minutes from time from substitute Colin Nish and a deflected effort from midfielder Liam Miller deep into injury time earned Hibs a hard-fought victory over nine-man Aberdeen at Easter Road this afternoon.

Colin Nish scores in injury time for Hibs

Until Nish struck it looked as if John Hughes were going to be forced to settle for a point despite the Dons having Maurice Ross sent off after just 47 minutes, the former Rangers star followed for an early bath by Chris Maguire who, like his team-mate, was one of five players booked in the first half by card happy referee Steven Nicholls.

Hibs were dealt an early blow as Moroccan playmaker Merouane Zemmama limped off, the apparent victim of a groin problem, after just 15 minutes, his place being taken by teenage striker Kurtis Byrne.

The youngster was soon into action, taking a pass from Anthony Stokes only to see Dons defencer Richard Foster block his way to goal, earning Hibs the first of two corners in quick succession, Sol Bamba meeting the second from Derek Riordan to send in a downward header which spun up off the turf and over Jamie Lanfield's goal.

There was a scare for Hibs when Maguire sent an inviting low ball across the face of Graham Stack's goal for Lee Miller to meet it at the back post. The former Hearts striker's effort went wide but, in any case, the offside flag had already been raised.

Stokes had another chance as he latched onto a long ball from Kevin McBride but, under pressure from Jerel Ifil, he blasted the ball high over the bar.

There had been little real quality play from either side, the main topic of conversation being the five yellow cards rookie ref Nicholls had handed out, the one for Ross' foul on Riordan coming back to haunt the ex-Rangers defender as he earned a second booking only two minutes into the second half for a late challenge on Ian Murray so earning himself an early bath.

Maguire was another of those who had been shown yellow in that first period having up-ended Riordan but the Dons striker was shown a straight red card on the hour mark as he lunged into Kevin McBride just outside Hibs penalty area so reducing the Pittodrie outfit to just nine men.

It left Aberdeen hanging on to salvage a point while Hibs, seemingly galvanised by boss Hughes half-time talk, went for all three, Abdessalam Benjelloun firing high over the bar before Riordan saw a low shot deflected inches wide.

And it came as no suprise when Hughes replaced right-back with a fifth striker in Colin Nish with 25 minutes remaining. Hibs continued to pile on the pressure without being able to find a way through a resolute Dons defence, Nish coming close with a header from a Chris Hogg cross which flew agonisingly wide.

Liam Miller saw a shot blocked only for Byrne to wildly crash the rebound high over the target as the home crowd became increasingly restless at the inability of their heroes to claim a goal and it took the fingertips of Stack to prevent Mark Kerr doing exactly that for the Dons, the Hibs goalkeeper touching his long-range shot over before Langfield was forced to beat Stokes' effort to safety.

But while the game remained goal-less Aberdeen retained hope of snatching an unlikely winner, Kerr lofting another effort from distance onto the top of Stack's net as the Dons lost teenager Fraser Fyvie to injury.

Easter Road erupted, however, as Nish final broke the deadlock with just two minutes remaining, the hitman rising to meet Byrne's cross to send a downward header beyoned Langfield.

And to ensure there was no way back for Mark McGhee's side Liam Miller's first goal for Hibs deep into injury time sealed teh points.

Hibs: Stack, Wotherspoon (Nish 65), Hogg, Bamba, Murray, Zemmama (Byrne 15), McBride, Liam Miller, Riordan, Stokes, Benjelloun (Rankin 78). Subs not used: Ma-Kalambay, Cregg, Stevenson, Thicot.

Aberdeen: Langfield, Ross, Considine, Ifil, Mulgrew, Foster, Kerr, McDonald, Fyvie (Young 81), Lee Miller, Maguire. Subs not used: Bain, Wright, Duff, Paton, Crawford, Hansson.

Referee: Steven Nicholls.