At full-time of his first win as Aberdeen manager, Jim Goodwin circled the pitch to applause from supporters and thumped his chest in response. Aberdeen remain tenth in the cinch Premiership but this victory over Hibernian lifted the mood around the club and has thrust them back into contention in the race for fourth, although they are four points behind Dundee United.
Hibernian finished the match with 10 men after Ryan Porteous was sent off for a goal-denying challenge six yards from goal which led to the second of Lewis Ferguson’s two penalty goals. Vicente Besuijen got the third for Aberdeen on a day which had started badly when Calvin Ramsay turned the ball into his own net.
It has been a campaign to forget so far at Pittodrie but Goodwin believes they could yet salvage something from it, with Dundee and Ross County left to play before the split.
“If we go and win the next two games it will put us on 41 points which might just be enough, but we’ll still need one or two favours,” Goodwin said. “A team of our size with the squad we have and the quality available to us shouldn’t be in this position. But we can put it right and restore some pride.”
Shaun Maloney had set his players out in a rather unorthodox 4-5-1 formation. Joe Newell and Lewis Stevenson were in the middle of the park but often found themselves wider than Sylvester Jasper on the left flank. On the opposite flank, Chris Cadden predominantly operated as a right back but would go beyond his own midfield when they had possession. It was difficult to keep track of but it probably played a part in their slightly fortuitous opener. Cadden took up position on the right wing and swung a terrific ball high over the Aberdeen defence towards Josh Doig at the back post but Ramsay stuck his leg out to try to turn the ball wide for a corner only for it to sneak into the bottom right corner.
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It was a heated affair, with Newell eventually receiving a booking in the 16th minute having nipped at the heels of his opponents from the first minute. Ross McCrorie and David Bates were also shown yellow cards in the first half. When Connor Barron beat Jasper in the air, he then shoved him in the back as if to let him know who had won the contest.
In the 36th minute, Barron unleashed a shot from 25 yards that looked almost certain to fly off target only to bounce up and smack Rocky Bushiri’s hand. Ferguson converted from 12 yards for his 13th goal of the season.
The opening exchanges of the second period lacked the aggression of the first but that all changed in the 63rd minute. Barron’s free-kick from the right side was met by Bates, who sent a header crashing off the bar, and just as McCrorie looked set to convert the rebound, Porteous wiped him from behind. Ferguson this time sent Kevin Dabrowski the wrong way to put the hosts in front.
Hibs offered nothing. Elias Melkersen scored a double last weekend in their Scottish Cup victory over Motherwell but barely had a touch of the ball here. Aberdeen were the better team and put the game to bed with nine minutes left to play.
Having been introduced as a substitute for his first appearance since Boxing Day, Marley Watkins reminded the home support of what they had been missing with his drive and creativity to burst past two Hibernian defenders before delivering a fine cross onto the right foot of Besuijen.
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On the turn, the Dutch winger unleashed an unstoppable strike over Dabrowski’s head. Some Hibs players appeared to suggest that the goalkeeper should have saved it, but the pace on the shot would have tested any custodian.
Maloney was left frustrated by the two penalty decisions.
“For the first penalty, the ball hits Rocky’s knee before it hit his arm,” he said. “The rules mean it shouldn’t be a penalty. It was definitely a penalty with Ryan but he made a genuine attempt to win the ball, so he shouldn’t be red-carded. The two decisions change the game.”
Star man: Connor Barron (Aberdeen)
Aberdeen (4-3-3): J Lewis 6 — C Ramsay 6 (D McGeouch 78min), D Gallagher 7, D Bates 6, J Hayes 6 — R McCrorie 7, C Barron 8 (D Polvara 90), L Ferguson 8 — V Besuijen 7 (T Jenks 90), C Ramirez 6 (M Ruth 87), C McLennan 6 (M Watkins 78)
Hibernian (4-5-1): K Dabrowski 5 — C Cadden 6, R Bushiri 5, R Porteous 4, J Doig 6 — D Wright 5 (C Mueller 61min, 3), J Campbell 5, L Stevenson 5 (P Hanlon 81), J Newell 5 (E Henderson 81), S Jasper 4 — E Melkersen 4 (J O’Connor 81). Booked Newell, Campbell, Stevenson, Henderson. Sent off Porteous
Referee A Muir.
Attendance 15,321
