Hibee history: Harper's arrival puts strikers on alert

It was all happening for Hibs after this impressive victory, the signing of Joe Harper and Celtic's defeat by Motherwell adding to a new surge of championship fever through Easter Road.

This win meant Hibs were only four points behind Celtic in the table in the days of two points for a win, and February 22 would be vital date when the Parkhead men would to come to Easter Road. (Hibs won that game 2-1 and were eventual league runners-up).

Harper had to sit it out in the stand and, with the other Hibs forwards having to fight for their place, Manager Eddie Turnbull was left with the happy - or unenviable - problem of wondering whom to leave out in future.

Jimmy O'Rourke and Alan Gordon seemed to sense Harper's shadow in the background and they had a superb afternoon by scoring Hibs' three goals between them.

O'Rourke made it nine goals in five games and was the deadliest striker in the country at that time, while Gordon reached his best form for weeks and scored the goal of the game with a diving header.

Both looked good enough to retain their places and speculation existed that Turnbull might opt to introduce Harper in a treble striking force leaving either Arthur Duncan or Alex Cropley out.

Neither Cropley nor skipper Pat Stanton was at his best in this game and, with Alex Edwards having to go it alone in midfield, Aberdeen took command in that department for long spells of the second half.

But by then O'Rourke and Gordon had already done the damage and Hibs were never in any real danger.

Indeed, it was the home side who came closest to scoring once again with Duncan hitting the post.

John Brownlie made an excellent comeback at right-back and gained in confidence as the game progressed and, though there were one or two moments of slackness, everyone at the back played well, with Jim Black topping the lot.