An early opener from Cato Guntveit was enough to secure three points for
Aberdeen and keep their slim hopes of a top six place alive.
Guntveit fired home the winner within two minutes of the game kicking off to
give the Dons an early advantage.
And the Easter Road side could not break down the Aberdeen defence in the 88
minutes that followed to take something from the game.
That sees Hibs' chances of claiming a Champions League spot falter as Rangers
have the opportunity to extend their three-point lead over Hibs against Dundee
at Ibrox.
Despite his winning goal against Kilmarnock on Saturday, youngster Tam McManus
failed to make the starting line-up for Hibernian's league game against
Aberdeen.
But more surprisingly was the relegation of Russell Latapy to the bench
alongside McManus, as speculation continues about his future at Easter Road.
Martin McIntosh was making his first start for five months for the Edinburgh
club and he got off to a nightmare start when he gifted possession to Cato
Guntveit in front of goal.
And the Dons player made no mistake when he smashed home the opener within
just two minutes of the game kicking-off.
Arild Stavrum came close to doubling that advantage two minutes later when a
delightful flick just a few yards out was held by goalkeeper Nick Colgan.
Hibs were struggling to create much pressure in front of goal although Lyndon
Andrews was looking promising.
The Trinidad & Tobago international tried to release Grant Brebner in front of
goal after 17 minutes but the Hibs player just failed to connect.
Derek Young had the chance to add to Aberdeen's lead after 26 minutes but his
glancing header from a Kevin McNaughton cross fell just wide.
The Dons looked to have suffered a blow when Derek Whyte - who has just
returned from a calf injury - looked to have injured his left arm. But he
returned to play after a couple of minutes.
Hibs could have pulled level after 39 minutes but Mixu Paatelainen was denied
at close range by goalkeeper Ryan Esson before he could pull the trigger and the
young keeper also managed to block the follow-up by John O'Neil.
Hibs were threatening again three minutes before the break. This time Stuart
Lovell's cross picked out Mark Libbra - but his header was easily held by the
Dons goalkeeper.
Aberdeen almost started the second half the same way they began the first when
Robbie Winters' corner was met by Darren Young about 25 yards out, whose shot
flew just over the crossbar.
Latapy had replaced his fellow countryman Andrews at half time and he made his
presence felt after 48 minutes. Grant Brebner sent a short free-kick to the
Latapy but his shot deflected just wide.
A minute later, Winters should have netted when he had a shot at goal just
outside the six-yard box but sent the ball straight to the keeper.
Darren Young's long-range effort from a Stavrum cross after 54 minutes was
just wide and Stavrum himself came close with an effort that was blocked by the
keeper a minute later.
Brebner could have dragged Hibs back into the game four minutes later from a
Stuart Lovell pass but he sent the shot wide of the post.
And McIntosh narrowly missed disaster when he almost sent the ball into his
own net from a Winters cross into the box just before the hour mark.
David Rowson had the chance to kill the game off 10 minutes from time when he
met a Stavrum cross but his header was easily held by Colgan.
And it was the Hibs goalkeeper who kept Alex McLeish's men in the game a
minute later when he produced a great save to deny Stavrum.
But his efforts proved to be in vain as Hibs failed to break down the Dons'
defence, allowing all three points to go to the Pittodrie side.
Teams:
Aberdeen: Esson, McNaughton, McGuire, Whyte, McAllister,
Derek Young, Guntveit, Rowson, Darren Young,Stavrum (Rutkiewicz 90), Winters.
Subs Not Used: Preece, Dow, Lilley, Clark.
Goals: Guntveit 2.
Hibernian: Colgan, Gary Smith, McIntosh (Lehmann 81), Jack,
Lovell, O'Neil, Brebner, Andrews (Latapy 46), Murray,
Paatelainen, Libbra (McManus 65).
Subs Not Used: Franks, Zitelli.
Booked: Jack, Brebner.
Att: 9,357
Ref: W Young (Scotland).
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