Hibernian were made to pay for two dreadful defensive blunders as they lost to Aberdeen.

Easter Road skipper Gary Caldwell was culpable at the first goal on the day it was reported he had signed a pre-contract agreement with SPL leaders Celtic.

The 23-year-old went on to turn in a tremendous performance to drive his side forward in a second-half they totally dominated.

But by that stage they were already two goals down, with Stevie Crawford making it three goals in two games and strike partner Darren Mackie adding a second before the first 15 minutes were out.

A second-half penalty miss from Derek Riordan hinted it was not going to be Hibs' day as they passed up numerous chances to haul themselves back into the match.

And they had to wait until injury-time to get the goal their second-half display deserved as Steven Whittaker swept past Jamie Langfield.

The drama continued as Scott Muirhead, just booked for charging down Caldwell's late free-kick, was sent off for kicking the ball away as Aberdeen held on amidst almost constant Hibs pressure.

A mixture of boos and clapping greeted Caldwell's every touch and, if that was bad, enough things were to get even worse for the Parkhead-bound Scotland defender.

There were only three minutes gone when, under pressure from Darren Mackie, the former Newcastle stopper fluffed a pass to keeper Zibi Malkowski from close to the corner flag.

Crawford, much-maligned since his switch north from Dundee United, nipped in front of the Pole and rolled the ball into the empty net for his third goal in two matches following his double in the Scottish Cup win over Dundee United last weekend.

Only 11 minutes later another dreadful mix-up in the home rearguard gifted Aberdeen a cheap second.

A hopeful long ball from Russell Anderson was flicked on by Crawford, causing all sorts of problems as Chris Hogg and Malkowski dithered over who should claim responsibility.

In the end, neither did and Mackie was the winner as he bundled the ball into the unguarded net.

Hibs manager Tony Mowbray responded to his side's inept first-half performance by bringing on 'super-sub' Ivan Sproule at the break, Stephen Glass making way for the lightning-quick winger.

There was almost an immediate response from the home side as they were denied a goal by the woodwork in the 48th minute.

David Murphy robbed Chris Clark on the edge of the area and rolled the ball inside for Riordan but the striker's deliberate, curled effort crashed back off the post with Jamie Langfield well beaten.

Two minutes later, Aberdeen had keeper Jamie Langfield to thank for maintaining their two-goal lead as he stopped from Scott Brown.

It was one-way traffic at this point and the Dons number one produced an even better stop to deny Brown yet again as the Leith men surged forward relentlessly.

With Hibs dropping midfielder Kevin Thomson into an unusual defensive beat, they were handed a magnificent chance to haul their way back into the match in the 71st minute as Riordan was brought down by Barry Nicholson.

However, Riordan's penalty clattered back off Langfield's left-hand post, rolled along the goal-line and spun to safety.

Time was the enemy for Hibs at this point and Langfield denied Brown for a third time as the clock ticked down.

However, they finally got a deserved goal in injury-time as Caldwell's free-kick was played short to Whittaker and he slotted past Langfield.

An incredible finale was completed when substitute Muirhead was sent-off for two bookings, the first for charging Caldwell's free-kick and the second for kicking the ball away as the Dons held on.

Teams:

Hibernian Malkowski, Whittaker, Caldwell, Hogg (Fletcher 58), Murphy, Scott Brown, Stewart, Thomson, Glass (Sproule 45), O'Connor, Riordan (Morrow 74).

Subs Not Used: Simon Brown, McCluskey, McDonald, Rudge.

Booked: Stewart.

Goals: Caldwell 90.

Aberdeen Langfield, McNaughton, Anderson, Griffin, Byrne, Foster, Nicholson, Clark, Smith (Muirhead 81), Crawford (Lovell 78), Mackie.

Subs Not Used: Esson, Dempsey, Stewart, Considine, Macauley.

Sent Off: Muirhead (92).

Booked: Mackie, Muirhead.

Goals: Crawford 4, Mackie 14.

Att: 14,572

Ref: D McDonald (Scotland).