Aberdeen leapfrogged Hibs into second place in the Scottish Premier League thanks to Niall McGinn's eighth goal of the season.

The Dons forward coolly finished off a cross from Johnny Hayes during a second-half dominated by the hosts.

Hibs striker Leigh Griffiths was lively throughout but was largely restricted to efforts from long-range.

And the visitors' defence coped well as Hibs failed to preserve their unbeaten record at Easter Road.

These sides served up two torpor-inducing 0-0s in Edinburgh last season when they were floundering at the wrong end of the table.

This term the teams are flying high but the fare was little improved in a drab first half.

On a bitterly cold day, the action heated up after the break, with Craig Brown's men absorbing a lot of home pressure before snatching the points.

Aberdeen were marginally more menacing in the opening exchanges, with McGinn shooting wide and Isaac Osbourne heading over before Cammy Smith, making his first SPL start, found himself clean through.

However, the teenager dithered in possession, allowing Alan Maybury to get in a tackle.

SPL top-scorer Griffiths was bright up front for Hibs, but it was his strike partner Eoin Doyle who came closest to breaking the deadlock when his dipping, first-time shot from 22 yards was pushed round the post by the fingertips of Jamie Langfield.

McGinn then made a mess of a back-post header and Griffiths tried his luck with an ambitious long-range curler that Langfield had to push away from the far top corner.

And a disappointing first half closed with the Dons keeper getting behind a drilled effort from Griffiths.

Hibs threatened early in the second half when Langfield misjudged a high ball but the Dons keeper made amends with a good one-handed save to keep out an overhead kick from Griffiths.

Ryan McGivern beat Langfield to a David Wotherspoon free-kick but the Hibs defender's header was just too high.

Griffiths stung the palms of Langfield with a fierce, angled blast from 22 yards and then danced his way into the penalty box only to drag his shot across goal.

Rory Fallon, on for Smith at the interval, ruffled the home defence with his physical approach and threw himself at a cross but the Aberdeen substitute could only head over from close range.

With Griffiths buzzing busily, Hibs continued to press but it was the visitors who struck on 77 minutes.

The Hibs defence failed to cut out a low cross from Hayes and McGinn was calmness personified as he gathered the ball and almost walked it into the net.

Pat Fenlon's side responded with a Tom Taiwo effort from 20 yards that whizzed narrowly wide and a rising strike from late replacement Ross Caldwell.

In stoppage time, Hibs were pouring forward and a loud appeal was made for a handball offence in a congested penalty area but referee Bobby Madden was not to be influenced.

Seconds later, the full-time whistle sounded, meaning Aberdeen have not lost in six visits to Easter Road.

Lineup, Bookings (0) & Substitutions (4)

Hibernian

  • 01 Williams
  • 03 McGivern
  • 04 Hanlon
  • 18 Maybury
  • 08 Claros
  • 11 Cairney
  • 14 Wotherspoon (Kuqi - 89' )
  • 16 Stevenson
  • 20 Taiwo
  • 09 Griffiths
  • 10 Doyle (Caldwell - 81' )

Substitutes

  • 31 Murdoch
  • 36 Donaldson
  • 17 Sproule
  • 26 Stanton
  • 24 Handling
  • 29 Caldwell
  • 32 Kuqi

Aberdeen

  • 01 Langfield
  • 04 Anderson
  • 06 Considine
  • 22 Reynolds
  • 07 Clark
  • 10 McGinn
  • 11 Hayes
  • 16 Osbourne (Masson - 63' )
  • 09 Vernon
  • 21 Magennis
  • 38 Smith (Fallon - 46' )

Substitutes

  • 32 Brown
  • 23 Shaughnessy
  • 24 Brown
  • 25 Masson
  • 35 Murray
  • 14 Fallon
  • 34 McManus
Ref: Madden
Att: 12,007

Match Stats

Shots

16 8

On target

3 2

Corners

9 2

Fouls

4 13

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +2:19 Full time

Full Time The game is over, as the referee blows his whistle.

90:00 +1:20

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Leigh Griffiths from the right by-line, save by Jamie Langfield.

90:00 +0:04

Ross Caldwell has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box missing to the wide right of the goal.

88:19

Leigh Griffiths takes the free kick.

88:19 Substitution

Substitution Shefki Kuqi joins the action as a substitute, replacing David Wotherspoon.

88:19

Handball by Rory Fallon.

87:33

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

84:36

Tom Taiwo has a shot on goal from outside the box which misses right.

83:27

David Wotherspoon has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the right of the target.

82:50

Jorge Claros has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide right of the target.

81:47

Cross/shot by Johnny Hayes, Ben Williams makes a save.

80:49 Substitution

Substitution Eoin Doyle leaves the field to be replaced by Ross Caldwell.

78:18

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jorge Claros by Rory Fallon. Direct free kick taken by Jorge Claros.

76:12

Assist by Rory Fallon.

76:12 Goal scored

Goal - Niall McGinn - Hibernian 0 - 1 Aberdeen Niall McGinn scores a goal from close in to the bottom right corner of the goal. Hibernian 0-1 Aberdeen.

75:55

Johnny Hayes sends in a cross.

74:05

Niall McGinn takes a shot. Corner taken by Johnny Hayes from the right by-line.

72:04

A cross is delivered by Eoin Doyle.

72:04

Eoin Doyle produces a cross.

71:30

Effort from just outside the area by Leigh Griffiths goes over the bar.

68:05

Josh Magennis challenges Eoin Doyle unfairly and gives away a free kick. Lewis Stevenson restarts play with the free kick.

68:05

Josh Magennis challenges Eoin Doyle unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Lewis Stevenson.

63:14

The ball is sent over by Eoin Doyle, clearance by Russell Anderson.

62:25

Leigh Griffiths is caught offside. Direct free kick taken by Russell Anderson.

62:25 Substitution

Substitution Jamie Masson comes on in place of Isaac Osbourne.

61:47

The ball is crossed by Andrew Considine, Header from deep inside the area by Rory Fallon goes over the bar.

60:29

Unfair challenge on Leigh Griffiths by Isaac Osbourne results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Ryan McGivern.

58:37

Andrew Considine produces a cross, David Wotherspoon produces a header from deep inside the six-yard box that clears the crossbar.

58:17

Foul by Ryan McGivern on Rory Fallon, free kick awarded. Isaac Osbourne restarts play with the free kick.

57:20

Leigh Griffiths fouled by Andrew Considine, the ref awards a free kick. Strike comes in from Leigh Griffiths from the free kick.

56:52

Paul Hanlon fouled by Rory Fallon, the ref awards a free kick. Paul Hanlon takes the free kick.

56:12

Leigh Griffiths has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the target.

55:08

Leigh Griffiths takes a shot. Save made by Jamie Langfield.

52:20

Unfair challenge on Paul Cairney by Josh Magennis results in a free kick. David Wotherspoon shoots direct from the free kick, Russell Anderson manages to make a clearance.

50:31

Free kick awarded for a foul by Ryan McGivern on Rory Fallon. Direct strike on goal from the free kick comes in from Johnny Hayes.

49:46

Handball decision goes against Eoin Doyle. Jamie Langfield takes the direct free kick.

48:26

Free kick awarded for a foul by Isaac Osbourne on Eoin Doyle. Leigh Griffiths restarts play with the free kick.

47:18

Unfair challenge on Paul Cairney by Josh Magennis results in a free kick. David Wotherspoon produces a strike on goal direct from the free kick.

45:38

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Leigh Griffiths from the right by-line. Inswinging corner taken by David Wotherspoon from the left by-line played to the near post, Jamie Langfield makes a save. The ball is sent over by Lewis Stevenson, Leigh Griffiths takes a shot.

45:11

The assistant referee signals for offside against Niall McGinn. Paul Hanlon takes the free kick.

45:01

The referee gets the second half underway.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Rory Fallon is brought on as a substitute for Cameron Smith.

44:41

Shot from just outside the penalty box by Josh Magennis misses to the left of the target.

43:35 Half time

Half Time The ref blows to signal half-time.

42:02

The ball is crossed by David Wotherspoon, clearance by Russell Anderson.

40:25

Leigh Griffiths takes a shot. Jamie Langfield makes a save.

39:51

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Leigh Griffiths from the right by-line, clearance by Chris Clark.

39:22

Corner from the left by-line taken by David Wotherspoon, Jamie Langfield makes a save.

38:59

Leigh Griffiths has an effort at goal from a long way out that goes wide left.

36:40

Andrew Considine gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Tom Taiwo. Free kick taken by Paul Hanlon.

36:16

Niall McGinn takes a shot.

32:19

The ball is swung over by Josh Magennis, Tom Taiwo manages to make a clearance.

32:19

Josh Magennis produces a cross, Josh Magennis makes a clearance.

31:54

The ball is delivered by Andrew Considine, Lewis Stevenson manages to make a clearance.

30:24

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by David Wotherspoon from the left by-line to the near post, Chris Clark makes a clearance.

29:52

Eoin Doyle takes a shot. Save by Jamie Langfield.

29:13

Paul Cairney has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box which goes wide right of the target.

28:21

Foul by Isaac Osbourne on Jorge Claros, free kick awarded. Paul Hanlon takes the free kick.

27:37

Johnny Hayes takes the inswinging corner, Lewis Stevenson makes a clearance.

27:27

The ball is delivered by Josh Magennis.

24:49

Paul Cairney produces a cross, clearance made by Ryan McGivern.

23:53

The assistant referee flags for offside against Eoin Doyle. Jamie Langfield takes the free kick.

23:34

The referee blows for offside against Scott Vernon. Direct free kick taken by Ben Williams.

20:24

Handball by Leigh Griffiths. Direct free kick taken by Jamie Langfield.

21:30

Tom Taiwo fouled by Chris Clark, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Paul Hanlon.

20:24

Leigh Griffiths handles the ball and concedes a free kick. Free kick taken by Jamie Langfield.

19:21

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by David Wotherspoon.

18:55

Corner taken by Leigh Griffiths from the left by-line played to the near post.

15:27

Free kick awarded for a foul by Ryan McGivern on Cameron Smith. Russell Anderson takes the free kick.

12:33

Free kick awarded for a foul by Russell Anderson on Leigh Griffiths. Leigh Griffiths delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from left channel, Andrew Considine manages to make a clearance.

11:47

The ball is swung over by Niall McGinn.

11:47

The ball is crossed by Niall McGinn, clearance by Isaac Osbourne.

9:53

Foul by Tom Taiwo on Cameron Smith, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Josh Magennis.

8:34

Effort from inside the area by Niall McGinn misses to the right of the target.

6:12

Andrew Considine crosses the ball.

3:35

Tom Taiwo fouled by Niall McGinn, the ref awards a free kick. Leigh Griffiths takes the free kick.

3:15

Outswinging corner taken by David Wotherspoon, clearance by Andrew Considine.

0:07

Corner taken by David Wotherspoon from the left by-line, clearance made by Andrew Considine.

0:00

The match has kicked off.

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