Scottish Premiership
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Aberdeen 1-0 Hibernian: Gary Mackay-Steven goal decisive at Pittodrie

By Clive LindsayBBC Sport

Last updated on .From the section Scottish Premiershipcomments149

Aberdeen leapfrogged Hibernian and are now within five points of the Scottish Premiership summit thanks to a thunderous Gary Mackay-Steven goal.

The winger celebrated his Scotland call-up by pouncing on a slack pass by Ryan Porteous just before the break.

It gave the Pittodrie side a fourth straight win - and fifth in a row at home. Hibs are now without one in four.

Neil Lennon's side improved after the break, but Mark Milligan and Florian Kamberi missed chances to equalise.

Wind and winger the winners

Given that the previous three meetings had finished level after 90 minutes, two without a goal being scored, it was almost guaranteed to be a tight affair.

But both managers were determined to belie the prediction and named attacking line-ups - forward Stevie May being preferred to defensive midfielder Dominic Ball for Aberdeen and Hibs' Florian Kamberi returning from suspension to partner Jamie Maclaren up front for the first time in the league this season.

Despite Aberdeen having four players named in Alex McLeish's Scotland squad this week and Hibs having three called up by Australia, showing their international class was proving difficult in the strong wind swirling around Pittodrie.

Australian midfielder Milligan had an early header cleared from in front of the Aberdeen goal by Shay Logan, but it was one of the home side's Scotland quartet who was making the difference at the other end.

Porteous was looking uncomfortable on the left of Hibs' back three and, after he picked up a yellow card for a foul on Mackay-Steven, Aberdeen continually provided the winger with opportunities to further tease the 19-year-old.

When Mackay-Steven intercepted Porteous' clearance, the Scotland Under-21 centre-back was easily deceived by a little drop of the shoulder and the ball was soon whistling between the near post and goalkeeper Adam Bogdan's outstretched hand.

It was no surprise when Hibs head coach Lennon changed to a back four at half-time and it helped the visitors.

Milligan sent a header over from a good position and Kamberi failed to finish after rounding Joe Lewis. At the other end, May failed to make Bogdan pay for his equally unwise rush from his goalline.

Aberdeen had not lost from a winning position at Pittodrie since 2014 and that record was prolonged after Kamberi twice failed to find the target from close range.

Hibs' Florian Kamberi fires wide at Pittodrie
Florian Kamberi missed chances for Hibs in the second half

Plenty to ponder for Lennon - analysis

BBC Scotland's Tyrone Smith at Pittodrie

The wind was the winner, the dreadful conditions stifling what should have been a high-quality affair, but Aberdeen won't give a jot about that, as their bandwagon continues to gather pace. That is now four wins on the spin for the Pittodrie side, the international break perhaps coming at the wrong time for them.

As for Hibernian, they are now four without a victory, leaving plenty for Lennon to ponder over the next fortnight. They created, and spurned, enough chances to win the game in the second half, but that will be scant consolation.

Line-ups

Aberdeen

Formation 4-4-1-1

  • 1Lewis
  • 2Logan
  • 18Devlin
  • 5McKenna
  • 29Lowe
  • 11Mackay-StevenSubstituted forBallat 90+1'minutes
  • 19Ferguson
  • 3Shinnie
  • 10McGinn
  • 17MaySubstituted forCosgroveat 86'minutes
  • 9WilsonSubstituted forAndersonat 71'minutes

Substitutes

  • 4Considine
  • 8Gleeson
  • 15Wright
  • 16Cosgrove
  • 20Cerny
  • 21Ball
  • 25Anderson

Hibernian

Formation 3-5-2

  • 31Bogdan
  • 24McGregor
  • 5MilliganBooked at 90mins
  • 36PorteousBooked at 16mins
  • 25Ambrose
  • 8SlivkaSubstituted forHorganat 79'minutes
  • 10Boyle
  • 14MallanBooked at 60mins
  • 16StevensonSubstituted forMackieat 89'minutes
  • 22Kamberi
  • 9MaclarenSubstituted forAllanat 79'minutes

Substitutes

  • 1Marciano
  • 3Whittaker
  • 7Horgan
  • 23Mavrias
  • 43Mackie
  • 47Gullan
  • 49Allan
Referee:
Alan Muir
Attendance:
15,629

Match Stats

Home TeamAberdeenAway TeamHibernian
Possession
Home53%
Away47%
Shots
Home6
Away10
Shots on Target
Home1
Away1
Corners
Home4
Away6
Fouls
Home11
Away16

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Aberdeen 1, Hibernian 0.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Aberdeen 1, Hibernian 0.

  3. Post update

    Corner, Hibernian. Conceded by Lewis Ferguson.

  4. Post update

    Stephen Mallan (Hibernian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  5. Post update

    Foul by Sam Cosgrove (Aberdeen).

  6. Substitution

    Substitution, Aberdeen. Dominic Ball replaces Gary Mackay-Steven.

  7. Booking

    Mark Milligan (Hibernian) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  8. Post update

    Foul by Mark Milligan (Hibernian).

  9. Post update

    Niall McGinn (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  10. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Martin Boyle (Hibernian) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.

  11. Substitution

    Substitution, Hibernian. Sean Mackie replaces Lewis Stevenson.

  12. Substitution

    Substitution, Aberdeen. Sam Cosgrove replaces Stevie May.

  13. Post update

    Foul by Mark Milligan (Hibernian).

  14. Post update

    Lewis Ferguson (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  15. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Stephen Mallan (Hibernian) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

  16. Substitution

    Substitution, Hibernian. Daryl Horgan replaces Vykintas Slivka.

  17. Substitution

    Substitution, Hibernian. Lewis Allan replaces Jamie Maclaren.

  18. Post update

    Foul by Stephen Mallan (Hibernian).

  19. Post update

    Gary Mackay-Steven (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  20. Post update

    Foul by Graeme Shinnie (Aberdeen).

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149 comments

  • Comment posted by U16805582, at 22:56 9 Nov 2018

    Well done to the Dons on a hard fought 1-0 win over Hibs. Pity your HYS has been infected with a recurring problem that seems to blight all Scottish HYS & that is the Nigel Troll virus. These horrible little buggers usually show up with what passes as Nigel Humour, "Pub Teams" & "Sunday League" infecting the comments are the indication that u have this nasty little virus.

  • Comment posted by Jon Mackenzie, at 08:20 10 Nov 2018

    I wish the BBC would delete comments by idiots who simply dismiss the standard of Scottish football. To say it is poor is certainly correct in the financial sense. Sterling on £300k a week is £15m a year. Hibs TURNOVER is £10m - but they turned a small profit and have no external debt, yet so many English clubs are up to their necks in debt. I think Scottish Football is well run rather than poor.

  • Comment posted by dandy1976, at 22:02 9 Nov 2018

    Not pretty but grinding out the wins...

  • Comment posted by Sheepy, at 22:28 9 Nov 2018

    Lewis, McKenna and Devlin.

    Best AFC defence in years

  • Comment posted by Wee Brian, at 22:03 9 Nov 2018

    Aberdeen on a fine run of form just now and Gary Mackay-Steven is the main man.

  • Comment posted by DonPerignon, at 22:09 9 Nov 2018

    Another well earned win. Hopefully keep the run going until the winter break, and it’ll be another interesting finish to the season.

  • Comment posted by ThousandSounds, at 08:50 10 Nov 2018

    @60 Tatlock...I suppose you'll have conveniently forgotten about the time many years before the 1988 Durrant incident, Rangers player Willie Johnston deliberately stamped on Aberdeen's John McMaster's throat at Ibrox nearly killing him after he had to receive CPR on the pitch.... but funnily enough that incident is largely forgotten about by the Glasgow media and Rangers fans.

  • Comment posted by MD03, at 22:31 9 Nov 2018

    Hibs fans were soooo quiet..... Lenny made more noise!

    GMS and May were o/s. As were the centre halves.

    Stand Free. Routine 3 points....

  • Comment posted by Red83, at 22:22 9 Nov 2018

    The reds are steaming in .....GMS is a legend ..

  • Comment posted by Lasagne295, at 06:44 10 Nov 2018

    Its passed bonfire night and neither old firm are top - come on Hearts,Dons, Hibs, Killie, ....anybody!! Keep them off the top. Would be nice for a Scottish team to win it for the first time in over 30 years!

  • Comment posted by Mouse1903, at 22:36 9 Nov 2018

    Great to get 4 on the bounce, things starting to click but Jan is a good time to improve striking options

  • Comment posted by Jimmy , at 00:26 10 Nov 2018

    English football is propped up by masses of absolute reprobates and cretins.

    I've spent time working down south and while there is plenty decent folk there is millions of total pellets..... I would estimate on average 25 pellets to every alright guy.

  • Comment posted by Abody hates chelmsford, at 04:52 10 Nov 2018

    Blinking flip, HYS on a Scottish game, one not involving either Glasgow club & still the trolls find a need to comment. Since 'arry claim has only to sneeze for the bbc to open a HYS one would think they'd have plenty of other options to spout their unimaginitive drivel.

    Gritty game in testing conditions but a valuable three points off a side looking to take our second spot slot, I'll take that

  • Comment posted by Aberdeenrowie1903, at 01:47 10 Nov 2018

    Grinding out the points on a windy night
    Decent crowd and a good Hibs turnout
    Thank goodness for GMS, very good goal tonight
    Not keen on loan signings but I though Lowe was great tonight strong althletic and very comfortable on the ball I wish we could buy him. Milne / Cormack thats the quality we need get your cheque book out.
    Pie and Bovril night a win for the Dons.
    Happy days
    STAND FREE

  • Comment posted by LekuoM, at 07:08 10 Nov 2018

    Donsfan - if i had the resources i could win the EPL. I think the issue is people claiming Celtic would do well in the EPL as they are currently. Incidentally, I agree with you that the trolling is a bore, as an Englishman I too find it dull and predictable. Apologies from England for that.

  • Comment posted by Hoopy, at 23:58 9 Nov 2018

    Big result for Aberdeen I expected a Hibs win. Sheepies haven't lost from a winning position at home since 2014 that's a hell of a record!

  • Comment posted by whereeaglesdare, at 23:32 9 Nov 2018

    Just seen Lowe have his best game for Aberdeen and Logan, really difficult conditions for both teams, but both produced some good football. And above all brill to see the minutes silence impeccably respected by both sets of fans. A real example to all other fans across the UK and one half of Glasgow.

  • Comment posted by U17253961, at 23:28 9 Nov 2018

    @22 You are still a fat nerd girl that uses the word "footie" have you no shame, have your bedsit flatmates seen this ? Fairy island I think you meant .

  • Comment posted by U17253961, at 23:11 9 Nov 2018

    @17 Mr ? and using the nerd word "footie"...na you are a fat girl

  • Comment posted by Billbop65, at 22:29 9 Nov 2018

    Wrong formation first half, powder puff up front, poor stuff Hibs, time to boost the squad in January or this season is finished

Scores, Results & Fixtures

Friday 9th November 2018

As It Stood

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Hearts128221912726
2Celtic118122762125
3Rangers1163225101521
4Kilmarnock126331812621
5Aberdeen126331610621
6St Johnstone126241218-620
7Hibernian125342112918
8Livingston11533127518
9Motherwell113261115-411
10Hamilton12318924-1510
11St Mirren121110525-204
12Dundee121011529-243
View full Scottish Premiership table

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