Goalkeeper David Marshall produced an impressed efficiency as Hibernian defeated Aberdeen 2-0 at Easter Highway to make it three wins on the spin.
Striker Dylan Vente set the hosts on their method together with his first aim since September earlier than Will Fish’s second-half header sealed the factors and tightened the Edinburgh facet’s grip on fifth spot within the cinch Premiership.
Hibs had been indebted to Marshall who pulled off a string of significant blocks, together with a penalty save from Bojan Miovski because the pissed off Dons remained tenth within the desk, simply three factors off the underside.
House boss Nick Montgomery made two tweaks to the facet that began final weekend’s 2-1 win at Dundee as Rory Whittaker and Lewis Stevenson changed Jordan Obita and the suspended Lewis Miller.
There have been eight adjustments to the Aberdeen facet that began Thursday’s Europa Convention League dead-rubber away to HJK Helsinki, with goalkeeper Kelle Roos plus centre-backs Slobodan Rubezic and Richard Jensen the one gamers to stay within the crew that kicked off the 2-2 attract Finland.
After a brilliant begin from Hibs, Aberdeen grew into the sport and Ester Sokler threatened twice from inside within the field, together with his angled shot deflected behind earlier than he despatched an acrobatic try that went harmlessly huge.
The Dons had been caught out within the seventeenth minute, nevertheless, because the hosts went forward with some direct soccer. Rubezic didn’t cope with an extended ball up the centre of the pitch from Marshall, and Martin Boyle ran clear earlier than drawing Roos and squaring it into the trail of Vente, who slammed the ball into the empty internet.
After a VAR verify for a potential offside, the aim stood.
Hibs virtually doubled their lead on the half-hour when Jair Tavares noticed a shot from simply contained in the field charged down by Stefan Gartenmann after Hibs did effectively to create a gap.
Aberdeen tried to summon a response and each Jamie McGrath and Miovski had been denied by sensible saves from Marshall inside the house of 5 minutes.
On the different finish, Fish headed simply huge from a Joe Newell free-kick moments earlier than the interval.
Aberdeen dominated the early levels of the second half and spurned some golden alternatives to attract degree.
Miovski had an effort dominated out following a foul on Marshall within the build-up earlier than James McGarry blazed the ball over from contained in the field after being performed in on the left.
Marshall then did fantastically to tip Miovski’s cushioned volley onto the within of the submit within the 63rd minute, earlier than Fish slid in to clear the unfastened ball off the road simply as Sokler regarded set to pressure it dwelling.
It proved a pivotal second as Hibs doubled their benefit within the seventieth minute when Fish headed in Boyle’s nook on the again submit.
Aberdeen had an opportunity to get themselves again within the sport seven minutes later after they had been awarded a penalty after the ball struck Stevenson’s hand within the field however Marshall pulled off one other essential save as he acquired all the way down to his proper to push out Miovski’s spot-kick.
The goalkeeper continued to frustrate the Dons within the closing levels, with three extra spectacular saves to disclaim Jack Milne, Connor Barron and Leighton Clarkson.
What’s subsequent?
Hibernian’s subsequent Scottish Premiership match is away to Celtic on Wednesday night time.
Aberdeen are at dwelling to Kilmarnock on the identical night time. Each video games kick-off at 7.45pm.
