Hibernian took a big step towards Scottish Premier League survival after victory over Aberdeen moved them five points clear of the relegation spot.

Mark Reynolds' own goal from Leigh Griffiths' cross put Hibs ahead.

And defender Sean O'Hanlon doubled the Leith club's advantage when he flicked a header past Jamie Langfield.

Aberdeen striker Scott Vernon volleyed home from close range to get the Dons back into the match but, despite looking nervy, Hibs held on.

And they can clinch safety if they avoid defeat against bottom club Dunfermline on Monday evening.

Griffiths proved key to opening the scoring when he drilled the ball across the six-yard line for the unfortunate Reynolds to deflect into the net on seven minutes.

Hibs were dominating and O'Hanlon flicked a header into the back of the net from a Griffiths corner to double the visitors' advantage 10 minutes later.

The Dons did manage to carve out a chance with Kari Arnason picking up Jamie Masson's long-range pass, but the Icelander could not control the ball.

However, this move did expose some of Hibs' all-too-familiar defensive frailties, with neither O'Hanlon or Paul Hanlon picking up Arnason.

As the first half wore on Aberdeen gained a sense of urgency, but, on several occasions, their strikers were caught offside as the ball came forward.

Hibs then countered, with Griffiths exposing some half-hearted Aberdeen defending, but flicking his shot over the bar.

The lively Griffiths then picked up a route one ball from his goalkeeper to split the Dons defence, but his fierce effort flew past Langfield's left-hand post.

The second half started brightly and Vernon volleyed home after Gavin Rae headed the ball back across goal to get Aberdeen back into the match.

The goal gave the home side confidence, and they enjoyed a spell of dominance but failed to carve out much in the way of clear chances.

However, Arnason took the intiative and lashed a drive from 25 yards which keeper Mark Brown had to look lively to tip over the bar.

Hibs did manage a rare break up the field and Roy O'Donovan set up fellow substitute David Wotherspoon inside the box, but the left-sided player lofted his shot over the bar.

The nerves in the visitors' defence were showing, but Aberdeen's Josh Magennis headed an injury-time corner over the bar and the capital side left with the points.

Lineup, Bookings (1) & Substitutions (5)

Aberdeen

  • 01 Langfield
  • 03 Reynolds Booked
  • 06 Considine
  • 22 Jack
  • 27 Anderson
  • 11 Arnason
  • 17 Fyvie (Smith - 74' )
  • 28 Rae
  • 33 Masson (Fraser - 80' )
  • 09 Vernon
  • 21 Magennis

Substitutes

  • 32 Brown
  • 02 McArdle
  • 07 Clark
  • 30 Fraser
  • 10 Mackie
  • 23 Megginson
  • 41 Smith

Hibernian

  • 31 Brown
  • 02 Doherty
  • 04 Hanlon
  • 05 O'Hanlon
  • 19 Kujabi
  • 22 Francomb (Wotherspoon - 72' )
  • 08 Claros
  • 13 Soares
  • 24 Osbourne
  • 09 O'Connor (O'Donovan - 59' )
  • 28 Griffiths (Sproule - 82' )

Substitutes

  • 41 Grant
  • 06 Murray
  • 20 Stephens
  • 07 Wotherspoon
  • 17 Sproule
  • 10 Doyle
  • 18 O'Donovan
Ref: Murray
Att: 5,281

Match Stats

Shots

10 10

On target

3 5

Corners

4 4

Fouls

11 6

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:01 Full time

Full Time The referee brings the game to a close.

90:00 +2:25

Scott Vernon takes the inswinging corner, Matt Doherty makes a clearance.

90:00 +1:08

Corner taken by Ryan Jack.

89:43

Ryan Jack fouled by Isaiah Osbourne, the ref awards a free kick. Scott Vernon takes the direct free kick.

89:03

Scott Vernon gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Sean O'Hanlon. Direct free kick taken by Mark Brown.

88:39

Jorge Claros takes a shot. Save by Jamie Langfield.

87:38

Headed effort from inside the box by Scott Vernon misses to the right of the target.

87:16

Unfair challenge on Mark Reynolds by Isaiah Osbourne results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Mark Reynolds.

84:47

Paul Hanlon fouled by Russell Anderson, the ref awards a free kick. Tom Soares restarts play with the free kick.

83:38

Free kick taken by Pa Saikou Kujabi.

83:38 Booking

Booking Mark Reynolds receives a caution for unsporting behaviour.

83:25

Unfair challenge on Ivan Sproule by Mark Reynolds results in a free kick.

82:31

Scott Vernon produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide right of the target.

81:25 Substitution

Substitution Ivan Sproule replaces Leigh Griffiths.

79:08 Substitution

Substitution Jamie Masson leaves the field to be replaced by Ryan Fraser.

78:59

Cameron Smith has shot on goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

76:13

Shot from inside the six-yard box by David Wotherspoon goes wide right of the goal.

75:58

Centre by Jamie Masson, Isaiah Osbourne manages to make a clearance.

74:55

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Ryan Jack, Paul Hanlon manages to make a clearance.

73:14 Substitution

Substitution Cameron Smith replaces Fraser Fyvie.

71:42 Substitution

Substitution David Wotherspoon is brought on as a substitute for George Francomb.

69:55

Foul by Jamie Masson on Leigh Griffiths, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Matt Doherty.

69:34

Centre by Leigh Griffiths, clearance made by Ryan Jack.

69:06

Corner taken by Jorge Claros from the right by-line played to the near post, Gavin Rae makes a clearance.

68:55

Matt Doherty takes a shot. Jamie Langfield makes a save.

68:08

Ryan Jack challenges Isaiah Osbourne unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Isaiah Osbourne.

67:15

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jorge Claros on Andrew Considine. Free kick taken by Jamie Langfield.

67:01

Andrew Considine takes a shot. Save by Mark Brown.

66:33

Corner taken by Ryan Jack.

66:33

Corner from right by-line taken by Ryan Jack.

66:20

Kari Arnason takes a shot. Save by Mark Brown.

64:09

Russell Anderson challenges Roy O'Donovan unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Sean O'Hanlon, clearance made by Kari Arnason.

60:11

The ball is swung over by Leigh Griffiths, Russell Anderson manages to make a clearance.

59:33

George Francomb challenges Fraser Fyvie unfairly and gives away a free kick. Andrew Considine takes the direct free kick.

58:04 Substitution

Substitution Roy O'Donovan comes on in place of Garry O'Connor.

57:04

Sean O'Hanlon fouled by Gavin Rae, the ref awards a free kick. Sean O'Hanlon restarts play with the free kick.

52:15

Assist on the goal came from Gavin Rae.

52:15 Goal scored

Goal - Scott Vernon - Aberdeen 1 - 2 Hibernian Scott Vernon finds the back of the net with a goal from close in to the top right corner of the goal. Aberdeen 1-2 Hibernian.

52:11

Centre by Fraser Fyvie,

50:25

The ball is sent over by Andrew Considine, Paul Hanlon makes a clearance.

49:14

Effort from the edge of the box by Josh Magennis goes wide of the right-hand upright.

48:30

George Francomb takes a shot. Jamie Langfield makes a save.

47:38

The ball is delivered by Fraser Fyvie, clearance made by Paul Hanlon.

46:11

Free kick awarded for a foul by Garry O'Connor on Jamie Masson. Free kick taken by Russell Anderson, Centre by Kari Arnason.

45:01

The second half kicks off.

45:00 +0:59 Half time

Half Time The referee calls an end to the first half.

43:26

Leigh Griffiths has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

41:48

Gavin Rae sends in a cross, Sean O'Hanlon manages to make a clearance.

40:11

A cross is delivered by Ryan Jack, Scott Vernon takes a shot. Save by Mark Brown.

39:28

Free kick awarded for a foul by Isaiah Osbourne on Josh Magennis. Josh Magennis takes the direct free kick.

37:09

Shot from just outside the box by Mark Reynolds goes over the bar.

33:26

Leigh Griffiths produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide right of the goal.

33:12

Centre by Leigh Griffiths, clearance by Josh Magennis.

32:30

Scott Vernon is ruled offside. Direct free kick taken by Mark Brown.

32:17

The ball is crossed by Josh Magennis.

31:49

The assistant referee flags for offside against Garry O'Connor. Free kick taken by Russell Anderson.

30:21

Fraser Fyvie concedes a free kick for a foul on Garry O'Connor. Direct effort from the free kick comes in from Garry O'Connor.

26:19

Scott Vernon is ruled offside. Mark Brown takes the direct free kick.

24:16

Kari Arnason has an effort at goal from just outside the area which goes wide of the left-hand post.

21:56

Scott Vernon concedes a free kick for a foul on Sean O'Hanlon. Leigh Griffiths has an effort direct from the free kick.

16:59

The official flags Scott Vernon offside. Mark Brown restarts play with the free kick.

16:03

Assist by Leigh Griffiths.

16:03 Goal scored

Goal - Sean O'Hanlon - Aberdeen 0 - 2 Hibernian Sean O'Hanlon grabs a headed goal from close in. Aberdeen 0-2 Hibernian.

15:46

Leigh Griffiths takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post,

15:38

Isaiah Osbourne takes a shot. Blocked by Andrew Considine.

11:53

Inswinging corner taken by George Francomb, clearance by Mark Reynolds.

11:06

Free kick awarded for a foul by Andrew Considine on George Francomb. Direct free kick taken by Matt Doherty.

9:21

Inswinging corner taken by George Francomb from the right by-line, Mark Reynolds manages to make a clearance.

9:09

Pa Saikou Kujabi crosses the ball, clearance by Mark Reynolds.

7:06

Tom Soares fouled by Fraser Fyvie, the ref awards a free kick. Mark Brown takes the direct free kick.

6:47

Assist on the goal came from Leigh Griffiths.

6:14 Goal scored

Goal - Mark Reynolds - Aberdeen 0 - 1 Hibernian An unfortunate own goal is conceded by Mark Reynolds. Aberdeen 0-1 Hibernian.

5:39

Leigh Griffiths produces a cross, blocked by Mark Reynolds.

3:26

Ryan Jack delivers the ball, George Francomb gets a block in.

2:07

Leigh Griffiths is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Jamie Langfield takes the free kick.

1:57

The ball is swung over by Ryan Jack, Mark Brown makes a save.

0:31

The ball is sent over by Josh Magennis, save by Mark Brown.

0:00

The game begins.

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