Hibee history: Mickey's so fine for Hibs

The midfielder had been moved to left back following an injury to David Winnie but he still found time to come forward and head home a Hans Gillhaus cross.

Hibs boss Alex Miller introduced just one new face after the previous week's draw with Falkirk, Neil Orr replacing Willie Miller at right back. Aberdeen made three changes to the side which had lost 1-0 to BK 1903 Copenhagen in the UEFA Cup in midweek with David Winnie, Peter Van de Ven and Paul Mason coming in for Robert Connor, Eoin Jess and Willem van der Ark.

The Dons, desperate to halt a run of three successive home defeats, made all the early running and Hibs keeper John Burridge came to the Easter Road club's rescue, diving bravely at the feet of Mason after Stephen Wright's 22-yard shot deflected off Pat McGinlay.

It took the Capital side six minutes to mount their first real attack. Mickey Weir, operating on the left, cut inside Wright before unleashing a 20-yard shot which drifted wide.

A tempting cross from Theo Ten Caat found the head of Gillhaus but his effort was seen all the way by Burridge who comfortably held the ball. Then a poor clearance from Tommy McIntyre fell to Grant, who wasted no time in blazing a right-foot shot from 20 yards just past the right-hand post of Burridge.

Aberdeen were forced to make a change in 18 minutes when Winnie was stretchered off. The big defender went down clutching his left knee after winning a tussle with Mark McGraw but there was no question of the Hibs youngster having committed any offence. Scott Booth took his place as Dons boss Alex Smith reshuffled his side, moving Grant to the left-back position.

The move backwards did not stop Grant coming forward and he opened the scoring for the Dons on 28 minutes. A Ten Caat cross from the left found Gillhaus, who held the ball up before chipping it back across goal where Grant stepped in front of the stationary Gordon Hunter to direct a powerful header into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.

A neat interchange between Weir and McGraw gave the winger space to cross but his effort was poor and easily cleared by the Dons defence.

Wright had the Capital side's first effort on goal with a 22-yard left-foot shot but it was at an ideal height for Theo Snelders ,who had no trouble holding it.

Hibs had gone in at the interval one down but, within two minutes of the restart, they were level - and once again the Easter Road club's hero was Weir.

Brian Hamilton harried Van de Ven into a mistake in the centre circle and, as the ball fell behind Stewart McKimmie and Brian Irvine, the inger nipped in, controlled the ball on his chest amid Aberdeen appeals for handball and raced forward fully 35 yards before drawing Snelders and slipping the ball into the net for his sixth goal of the season.

Minutes later, Brian Hamilton carved open the Dons' defence which left Wright all alone but Snelders was alive to the danger and raced from his line to smother the striker's shot.

Gillhaus created an opening for Booth but, before the youngster could shoot , Hunter made amends for his earlier mistake with a timely tackle. But, despite the Dons' efforts, they were coming up against a highly-organised Hibs side with the midfield battling for every ball.

Aberdeen: Snelders, Wright, Winnie, Grant, Irvine, McKimmie, Van de Ven, Bett, Mason, Ten Caat, Gillhaus. Subs: Van der Ark, Booth.

Hibs: Burridge, Orr, Mitchell, Hunter, McIntyre, MacLeod, Weir, Hamilton, Wright, McGraw, McGinlay. Subs: Evans, Miller.