Hibs verdict: Jack Ross' men answer questions about their big-game mentality as they tighten grip on third place

The last time these two faced up, at Pittodrie back in November, Hibs were out-played and out-fought, leaving manager Jack Ross questioning his players’ ambitions as he asked what they wanted from the season.

Hibs forward Martin Boyle celebrates his second goal of the game as the Easter Road side secured a 2-0 vctory over Aberdeen. Photo by Ross Parker / SNS Group

At Easter Road, as they ran out 2-0 winners, he got the response he was looking for.

For all that the cup bumps have been bruising, they have not prompted any deviation from the Premiership targets set at the beginning of the campaign, when Europe was the driving force and third place was viewed as achievable.

There have have been times when even their own fans have queried their mental ability to deliver in big games, with the losses against Derek McInnes’ men considered particularly irksome, but this time they proved they have the guts, the graft and the guile to out-perform their main rivals.

As has been the case when Hibs have gotten the better of Aberdeen in recent times, they had Martin Boyle to thank for his goal contributions But the whole team contributed to a solid defensive performance and the ability to cause problems as they advanced upfield.

Post-Christmas, Hibs had looked uncertain and insipid. But, on the back of two victories in a week, they went into this head-to-head with a boldness that suits their play.

Sticking with the same team that defeated Dundee United and St Mirren, they had the flexibility to soak up Aberdeen attacks, while having numerous outlets, pace and drive to quickly transition from defence to attack. The movement up top gave them options, with Boyle playing off the shoulders of the visiting backline, darting in behind and picking up balls that were whipped in or threaded through.

But, if Hibs were good, playing with much more cohesion and purpose, Aberdeen contributed to their own downfall.

Newcomers Chris Cadden and Jackson Irvine have been hugely influential since their January arrivals, providing balance and enabling Ross to get greater width, in attack and defence, and freeing up Martin Boyle and Jamie Murphy to play higher up the park and more centrally.

Cadden almost opened the scoring when he reacted to a slack Greg Leigh passback in the fifth minute and found himself through on goal. But Dons keeper Joe Lewis was quickly out and blocked. Leigh limped off.

Paul McGinn was the next to be left red-faced by a sloppy passback but Ofir Marciano acted as sweeper to deny Jonny Hayes.

The action raged from one end to the other but Boyle squandered the chance to open the account in the 24th minute when a well-timed run took him through.

The breakthrough came in the 26th minute when Leigh’s replacement Connor McLennan clipped Murphy as he stabbed the ball into the danger area from the byeline. Boyle slammed the spot-kick home.

The Aussie forward was foiled by Lewis yet again, in the 39th minute. Then Doidge came close just after the break. But in the 68th minute Boyle sent an angled drive into the net for his fourth goal in three games.

Aberdeen might have clawed one back with ten minutes remaining when Fraser Hornby’s header bounced off Paul Hanlon’s head and dipped behind Marciano, but the bar allowed Hibs to keep the clean sheet and move five points clear of Aberdeen.

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