Aberdeen deservedly ended their seven-match wait for a home win - and Hibernian's hopes of ending the day top of the Scottish Premier League.

Gavin Rae scrambled in the 71st-minute winner from close range from a low Josh Magennis cross.

Niall McGinn had pounced to give the Dons the lead after Ben Williams saved a fourth-minute Scott Vernon drive.

Eoin Doyle levelled with a long-range drive after 33 minutes, but Rae ended Hibs' six-game unbeaten league run.

Rae is subdued in his celebration after his goal brings Aberdeen victory

Rae is subdued in his celebration after his goal brings Aberdeen victory

And Aberdeen, returning to virtually full strength after their midweek Scottish Communities League Cup win over Dunfermline Athletic, stretched their run without a defeat to nine and ended a sequence of five home draws, four this season.

There appeared to be as many seagulls around Pittodrie as fans as kick-off approached.

The attendance for the early kick-off had obviously taken as much of a battering from the presence of television cameras as the coastline had from the North Sea this week.

But, after some early pressure from the visitors, Hibs manager Pat Fenlon would have been the one left foaming at the mouth after some slackness as the Dons' first attack led to the opening goal.

Hibs failed to deal with a long ball to the edge of their penalty area and, when Williams could only parry Vernon's low drive, McGinn was on hand to complete the move from 10 yards.

Leigh Griffiths had returned to Hibs' starting line-up in place of teenager Ross Caldwell and ought to have equalised following a fine through ball from Paul Cairney, but the fit-again striker's drive was beaten away by goalkeeper Jamie Langfield.

There should have been more bad news for Hibs when the ball appeared to ricochet off Alan Maybury's hand and the defender then launched into a high, studs-first tackle on Ryan Fraser - the kind of which could have resulted in a red card but produced only a yellow card.

The Dons ought to have also had a penalty after 27 minutes when Vernon got his head to a Ryan Jack cross and James McPake's flying arm flicked the ball over.

Williams redeemed himself with a fine double save, blocking a Stephen Hughes drive at point-blank range then turning the ball over the crossbar with his fingertips from Vernon's looping first-time effort.

Hibs were level out of the blue after 33 minutes when, with marker Mark Reynolds claiming unsuccessfully for offside, Doyle punched his laces through the ball on the turn and it whipped past a surprised Langfield from 22 yards.

It was no surprise when Maybury, who was teasing the referee to show him a second yellow card, was replaced with Ryan McGivern at half-time.

David Wotherspoon and Cairney both squandered shooting opportunities for Hibs before the Dons restored their advantage.

McPake allowed substitute Magennis to turn inside the penalty box and the Northern Ireland international's low cross was poked in by Rae from four yards.

Hibs came close to stealing a point when substitute Shefki Kuqi's flicked past goalkeeper Langfield, but the Finn's effort was cleared off the line by Reynolds and the Dons survived to secure the win.

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (5)

Aberdeen

  • 01 Langfield
  • 02 Jack
  • 04 Anderson
  • 06 Considine
  • 22 Reynolds
  • 05 Rae
  • 10 McGinn
  • 16 Osbourne
  • 18 Hughes
  • 20 Fraser (Magennis - 54' )
  • 09 Vernon (Milsom - 90' )

Substitutes

  • 32 Brown
  • 03 Robertson
  • 07 Clark
  • 08 Milsom
  • 19 Megginson
  • 21 Magennis
  • 38 Smith

Hibernian

  • 01 Williams
  • 02 Clancy
  • 04 Hanlon Booked
  • 06 McPake
  • 18 Maybury Booked (McGivern - 46' )
  • 07 Deegan
  • 08 Claros
  • 11 Cairney Booked (Kuqi - 76' )
  • 14 Wotherspoon (Handling - 68' )
  • 09 Griffiths
  • 10 Doyle

Substitutes

  • 21 Antell
  • 03 McGivern
  • 16 Stevenson
  • 26 Stanton
  • 24 Handling
  • 29 Caldwell
  • 32 Kuqi
Ref: Murray
Att: 8,282

Match Stats

Shots

7 4

On target

4 3

Corners

9 5

Fouls

8 10

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:32 Full time

Full Time The final whistle goes and the game is over.

89:49 Substitution

Substitution Scott Vernon goes off and Robert Milsom comes on.

88:01

Shot from deep inside the area by Niall McGinn clears the bar.

82:25

Corner taken by Leigh Griffiths.

81:52

Corner taken left-footed by Leigh Griffiths from the right by-line, Gavin Rae makes a clearance.

78:47

Foul by Josh Magennis on Danny Handling, free kick awarded. Leigh Griffiths crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from right channel, Mark Reynolds gets a block in.

75:30

Leigh Griffiths crosses the ball in from the free kick, Mark Reynolds makes a clearance.

75:30 Substitution

Substitution (Hibernian) makes a substitution, with Shefki Kuqi coming on for Paul Cairney.

75:30

Andrew Considine challenges Paul Hanlon unfairly and gives away a free kick.

74:58

Unfair challenge on Jorge Claros by Niall McGinn results in a free kick. Ben Williams takes the direct free kick.

73:14

Ryan Jack delivers the ball, clearance made by James McPake.

71:23

Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Leigh Griffiths.

70:03

The assist for the goal came from Josh Magennis.

70:03 Goal scored

Goal - Gavin Rae - Aberdeen 2 - 1 Hibernian Gavin Rae scores a goal from close range to the bottom right corner of the goal. Aberdeen 2-1 Hibernian.

69:49

The ball is swung over by Josh Magennis,

68:15

Corner taken right-footed by Niall McGinn.

67:08 Substitution

Substitution (Hibernian) makes a substitution, with Danny Handling coming on for David Wotherspoon.

66:43

Josh Magennis produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the target.

65:58

Free kick taken by Niall McGinn.

65:58 Booking

Booking Paul Hanlon is shown a yellow card.

65:44

Paul Hanlon gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Josh Magennis.

65:19

Effort on goal by Paul Cairney from just inside the penalty area goes over the target.

62:29

Jamie Langfield takes the free kick.

62:29 Booking

Booking Paul Cairney goes into the referee's book.

62:11

Free kick awarded for a foul by Paul Cairney on Ryan Jack.

60:59

Inswinging corner taken by Niall McGinn, Gary Deegan manages to make a clearance.

59:50

Niall McGinn takes the inswinging corner, clearance by David Wotherspoon.

58:59

Eoin Doyle challenges Ryan Jack unfairly and gives away a free kick. Ryan Jack takes the free kick.

57:31

Leigh Griffiths produces a cross.

55:39

The ball is sent over by Niall McGinn, Josh Magennis has a header from close range and clears the crossbar.

54:58

Corner taken by Niall McGinn from the left by-line played to the near post.

53:46 Substitution

Substitution Josh Magennis is brought on as a substitute for Ryan Fraser.

52:46

The ball is swung over by Leigh Griffiths, Jamie Langfield makes a comfortable save.

49:15

The official flags Leigh Griffiths offside. Indirect free kick taken by Russell Anderson.

48:48

Ryan McGivern gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Ryan Fraser. Direct free kick taken by Ryan Jack.

48:03

The assistant referee signals for offside against Eoin Doyle. Direct free kick taken by Mark Reynolds.

47:14

Russell Anderson fouled by Leigh Griffiths, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Jamie Langfield.

46:45

The referee blows for offside. Tim Clancy restarts play with the free kick.

46:00

Niall McGinn is ruled offside. Ben Williams takes the direct free kick.

45:01

The referee starts the second half.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Ryan McGivern replaces Alan Maybury.

45:00 +1:03 Half time

Half Time The referee blows for half time.

45:00 +0:18

The assistant referee signals for offside against Stephen Hughes. Ben Williams restarts play with the free kick.

44:40

Alan Maybury challenges Ryan Fraser unfairly and gives away a free kick. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Ryan Jack, Paul Hanlon manages to make a clearance.

43:13

Leigh Griffiths fouled by Russell Anderson, the ref awards a free kick. Leigh Griffiths has an effort direct from the free kick, save by Jamie Langfield.

41:51

Corner taken short by Ryan Fraser.

41:14

Free kick awarded for a foul by Paul Cairney on Ryan Fraser. Direct free kick taken by Stephen Hughes.

39:03

Paul Cairney fouled by Isaac Osbourne, the ref awards a free kick. Ben Williams takes the free kick.

37:05

Corner taken by Ryan Fraser played to the near post.

34:16

Foul by Paul Cairney on Isaac Osbourne, free kick awarded. Ryan Jack crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from right channel, clearance by Eoin Doyle.

33:54

Corner from the right by-line taken by Ryan Fraser, clearance made by Paul Hanlon.

32:51 Goal scored

Goal - Eoin Doyle - Aberdeen 1 - 1 Hibernian Eoin Doyle grabs a goal from just outside the penalty area to the top right corner of the goal. Aberdeen 1-1 Hibernian.

30:38

Niall McGinn is ruled offside. Ben Williams takes the free kick.

29:31

Inswinging corner taken by Ryan Fraser, Unfair challenge on Ben Williams by Gavin Rae results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Ben Williams.

29:11

Stephen Hughes takes a shot. Save by Ben Williams.

26:57

Outswinging corner taken by Ryan Fraser, clearance made by Paul Hanlon.

22:32

Corner taken by David Wotherspoon from the left by-line played to the near post, Russell Anderson manages to make a clearance.

21:38

Unfair challenge on Tim Clancy by Niall McGinn results in a free kick. Leigh Griffiths crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from right wing, clearance by Ryan Jack.

16:41

Jorge Claros fouled by Gavin Rae, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Paul Hanlon.

13:55

Free kick awarded for a foul by Leigh Griffiths on Russell Anderson. Free kick taken by Jamie Langfield.

13:06

A cross is delivered by Ryan Fraser.

11:33

Free kick crossed by Niall McGinn, clearance by Paul Hanlon.

11:33 Booking

Booking Booking for Alan Maybury.

11:22

Alan Maybury concedes a free kick for a foul on Ryan Fraser.

10:02

Leigh Griffiths has an effort at goal. Jamie Langfield makes a brilliant save.

6:11

The referee blows for offside. Indirect free kick taken by Jamie Langfield.

3:54

Scott Vernon provided the assist for the goal.

3:54 Goal scored

Goal - Niall McGinn - Aberdeen 1 - 0 Hibernian Niall McGinn fires in a goal from close range to the bottom left corner of the goal. Aberdeen 1-0 Hibernian.

3:19

Scott Vernon takes a shot. Ben Williams makes a save.

0:11

Corner taken by Leigh Griffiths, clearance made by Andrew Considine.

0:00

The referee gets the game underway.

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