The sliding doors moment that rocked Scottish football beneath sack the board banner

Not everyone is aware that the sliding doors concept, rather than originating from a film starring Gwyneth Paltrow, was actually first investigated in art form by JP Priestley, the English playwright.

He does so in his play “Dangerous Corner”, which isn’t about Hibs midfielder Liam Henderson’s delivery into the box one May afternoon in 2016, but certainly could be. Talk about sliding doors.

Priestley did sometimes turn his cultured eye to football and wrote perceptively about the “uproarious Saturday plaything”. ‘Uproarious’ was certainly the word to describe the final moments of Hibs v Aberdeen in November.

Hibs' Rocky Bushiri nets a dramatic equaliser in a 3-3 draw with Aberdeen. | SNS Group

It wasn’t a Saturday. Rather, it was a Tuesday. It was a day David Gray might already regard as a defining one in his Hibs career, which might seem like a laughable contention given he’ll always have 21 May 2016.

But even his cup heroics may well not have been enough to save him had the modern-day Hibs hero suffered one more defeat in a horrific run that seemed to be leading towards only one outcome: the removal of yet another Hibs manager, hoodoo-busting Scottish Cup-winning goalscorer or not.

Gray is therefore already very alert to the idea that things can happen for a reason. Something that might seem at the time like an inconsequential moment is in actual fact freighted with enormous significance, such as when Rangers keeper Wes Foderingham got a hand to an Anthony Stokes shot to concede a corner in Scottish Cup final injury time nine years ago. Gray could have decided to head for the back post rather than towards the front post, or else Henderson might have elected to put the ball somewhere else than on the edge of the six-yard box.

The same ‘what if?’ musings can be applied to Rocky Bushiri. What if the big defender had chosen another night to score his first professional goal to secure the gaspiest of last-gasp draws against Aberdeen.

What if he hadn’t carried on into the six-yard area after laying the ball off for Elie Youan, who then popped an inviting cross over for Dwight Gayle. The veteran striker had the presence of mind to head the ball into the danger area and Bushiri bundled home. It could have squirted anywhere. But the ball squirted over the line into the net. The final while blew seconds later. Hibs 3 Aberdeen 3, with three goals scored in time added on, including an overhead kick from Aberdeen striker Ester Sokler to put the visitors in front just a minute or so earlier.

Moments away from securing three points and winning for the 11th time in their opening 13 Premiership games, Aberdeen have not won a league match since. The teams meet again this afternoon at Easter Road. A home win will take Hibs to within two points of the once unbeatable Pittodrie side, who were 22 points ahead of the bottom-placed Edinburgh team before kick-0ff when they last met at the stadium.

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin and Hibs head coach David Gray. | SNS Group

Watching highlights of that game back now, it’s hard not to be awed by the chain of events, and what it meant. It’s also interesting to be reminded of the backdrop, literally. At the Famous Five Stand end where Bushiri scrambled in his late equaliser, and indeed where Nicky Cadden had slotted home what he thought had been a late equaliser not long earlier, a large banner can be seen: SACK THE BOARD.

Although they’d lost in the league just four days earlier for the first time under Jimmy Thelin, Aberdeen were still riding high. Indeed, at around 9.44pm on the night in question, they were level on points with Celtic at the top having played one game more. They were also set to go 25 points ahead of Hibs, who were sitting plum last.

All eyes were on Gray, the recipient of the dreaded vote of confidence earlier this month. Although not baldly stated, results, according to the update from the board of directors, had to improve, and quickly. “Through this challenging time, we support our Head Coach David Gray and his management team,” it said. “All departments are under pressure to deliver.”

It was late on Armistice Day, a Monday, when this statement emerged, and with no games the following weekend due to an international break, most expected Hibs to come out firing against Dundee at Dens Park, fresh from a number of days spent doing preparation work on the training field.

They did and then Jordan Obita lunged into Mo Sylla and was red carded. Leading by a goal to nil at the time after Nicky Cadden’s early counter, Hibs crumbled. It was 3-1 Dundee by half time and 4-1 by the end. Gray made a point of applauding the away fans for longer than was normal after the final whistle. Did he know the game was up? It wasn’t, and it’s still not. All that’s up are Hibs. On the up. Aberdeen, by contrast, are sinking fast. Can Gray account for their form? Can anyone? It certainly doesn’t seem like Thelin can, which is worrying seeing as he is their manager.

Aberdeen are on an alarming run of form. | SNS Group

“Right now there’s a lot of talk about the run Aberdeen are on at the moment, but they are still a very good side,” said Gray yesterday. “Look at the run they were on at the start of the season, they have very good players. We demonstrated how quickly things can change in a positive way.”

Although it’s an almost managerial doctrine to describe points as counting for the same whoever you are playing, and whatever the circumstances, Gray accepts that the point won against Aberdeen in November “was more than just a point”.

He can say that again. Bushiri’s goal might well be remembered for being the moment when the season turned for not just one but two teams – as well as two managers.