Aberdeen 0 - 2 Hibernian

The Dons go into the international break still searching for a first league win of the campaign as two goals in six minutes were enough for Hibs to secure their first points.

There were two changes to the Aberdeen starting XI from the game against BK Häcken on Thursday with Leighton Clarkson and Shayden Morris starting from the bench, Angus MacDonald and Connor Barron replacing them. There was a place among the subs for new signing Pape Gueye.

Hibs made three changes to the side beaten 3-0 by Aston Villa on Thursday with Will Fish, Dylan Vente and Martin Boyle all starting.

Pittodrie was basking in the September sunshine as the game kicked off and it was an equally bright start from Aberdeen, Nicky Devlin heading wide of goal from close in in the second minute, following a good move involving Graeme Shinnie, Duk and Jamie McGrath.

Hibs responded with a free-kick on the Aberdeen left on 10 minutes, Newell’s ball in won by Fish who put a strong header over the bar from a dozen yards out when he might have done better. Boyle caused problems five minutes later with a darting run inside before firing off a shot that Kelle Roos turned behind at his near post. Jeggo was booked moments later for hauling down Duk on the break.

MacDonald made an important intervention on 18, getting back quickly after Rube i had been dispossessed, a fine block putting Youan’s shot behind after a threatening run forward. Youan caused more problems after 26 minutes, Rube i booked for chopping him down as he surged forward. It was a stop-start game at this point, too many stoppages causing the Dons to lose their way.

Hibs were on the break after 32 minutes, Youan away again down the left, cutting inside to drill in a low shot that Roos saved well low down. As Aberdeen tried to break from there, Campbell was booked for hacking at Shinnie.

Youan was the instigator again three minutes later, bursting through the middle before finding Boyle, his cross blocked by MacDonald as Campbell looked to get on the end of things. Up the other end, James McGarry turned an effort wide from a narrow angle as Aberdeen tried to get things moving again.

The best chance of the half fell to Bojan Miovski on 40 minutes, Barron at the by-line pulling the ball back into his path, but Hibs were quick to smother his first time poke at goal. It was Miovski again seconds later, Duk winning the ball back high up, Miovski’s low 25-yarder comfortably handled by Marshall. He forced another save from Marshall in the final minute of the half, a stabbed shot from just inside the box.

HALF-TIME: ABERDEEN 0 HIBERNIAN 0

Shayden Morris replaced Rube i as the teams came out for the second half.

Hibs weren’t far away from an opener on 49 minutes, a corner reaching Newell at the far post. His swerving shot back across the face of goal was only a foot outside the frame. The Dons were straight back up the other end, a fine run from Morris ending with him spearing a cross through the six-yard box, but there was nobody there to get a touch.

Aberdeen were quickly on the attack again, Hanlon booked for a chop on Shinnie. Better from Aberdeen though as they kept the pressure on, Devlin arcing a cross into the box that Miovski headed over. Morris needed treatment in the aftermath, but was able to carry on.

Youan wriggled his way past a number of challenges as he carried the ball 40 yards forward, but surrounded by red shirts in the box, he fired wide. It was end to end stuff now, Duk bursting down the left and cutting into the box before he was seemingly brought down by Miller after 55 minutes. Referee Munro waited for a long VAR check before awarding a goal kick. Moments later, Campbell escaped a second yellow after a late tackle on Shinnie.

On 61, Ester Sokler and Leighton Clarkson replaced Morris and Barron. A Clarkson corner two minutes later caused confusion, James McGarry’s shot taking an awkward deflection and forcing an acrobatic save from Marshall. Hibs made their first substitution on 66, Campbell making way for Le Fondre. Shinnie added to the yellow card count for a foul on Miller after 71 minutes, Hibs then bringing on Doidge for Vente.

Le Fondre had the visitors in front on 75 minutes. Doidge chased a lost cause to the by-line unchallenged, and his cross into the box found Le Fondre with far too much space in the centre of the box, able to take a touch and place his effort beyond Roos. Dante Polvara replaced Shinnie as the teams formed up for the kick-off. He was on the edge of the box to collect a pass from Duk on 79 but his looping shot went over. Gueye made his Aberdeen debut immediately afterwards, on in place of Duk.

It was Hibs who threatened next, a Le Fondre chip from the edge of the area pawed over by Roos as the game entered the last ten minutes. From the corner, a Newell header thumped off the bar, but Hibs were able to recycle the ball back into the middle with some head tennis and Doidge was up highest to head in from eight yards out.

That settled the game as a contest as Aberdeen were unable to find a way back into the fixture, the visitors comfortably seeing the game out despite seven minutes of added time.

2 minutes added at the end of 1st half

7 minutes added at the end of 2nd half