There’s the rub
Allan: Martin’s pace gives rival defenders nightmares
JUST about everyone inside Easter Road knows what Scott Allan is planning when he’s on his right foot running across the park.
But there was still nothing that Aberdeen could do to prevent him setting Hibs on their way to victory.
The midfielder picked out Martin Boyle’s run in behind early in the second half with a trademark through ball and the winger bagged his first of two fine goals to give his team a deserved lead.
Flo Kamberi then produced a defence-splitting pass that Allan would have been proud of and again Boyle wasn’t being caught as he raced through to score.
Kamberi then made absolutely sure that Hibs would not be surrendering a third lead in as many games to secure their biggest league win over Aberdeen since a 6-2 triumph in 1968 – 51 years to the day.
Allan and Kamberi supplied the ammunition on this occasion but it was Boyle who made the telling contribution in hitting the target.
And Allan said: “He is one of the quickest players in the league so that makes the pass slightly easier.
“When you have someone like that you play it into the space and he’s a great chance of catching it.
“He still had a lot to do but he dinked it over the keeper and slotted it away. That got us up and running.
“The team has missed Boyler. You can’t buy that kind of natural pace. He gives defenders all sorts of nightmares because they don’t want to leave space in behind them and that frees up space for the other players. That’s a massive plus for us.”
Kamberi then “did an Allan” for Boyle and Hibs’ second goal.
Allan said: “It was the only pass he could play!
“No, I’m joking! When you’ve got Boyle’s pace it gets you up the pitch. He still needed to finish it. It was a massive game from Boyler today and I’m delighted for him especially after the year he has had with injuries.” Jack Ross made two changes to the side that lost at Ross County in midweek, there was a longawaited return to the starting line up for Ofir Marciano and Stevie Mallan replaced Vykintas Slivka. Derek McInnes kept faith with the team that came from two goals down to earn a point against Rangers at Pittodrie in midweek.
Only some fine defending and goalkeeping prevented Hibs taking the lead within the first five minutes.
Boyle’s wicked cross would have been tapped in by Christian Doidge but for Ash Taylor being in the right place at the right time.
Joe Lewis then did brilliantly to tip Mallan’s follow-up effort wide.
And Marciano produced a great double-save to keep the game
goalless. From a Hibs free-kick that hit the wall, James Wilson headed McKenna’s clearance into the channel then burst after it and into the box.
The Hibs keeper beat away his near-post effort but straight into the path of Cosgrove.
He should have scored but Marciano made himself big and kept out his pointblank effort.
Allan’s moment of incisiveness brought about the opener shortly after the break. He drove across the pitch, looking again for the now trademark through pass, that he weighted perfectly to pick out Boyle’s run. McKenna was never catching him and the winger took a simple touch to go past Lewis before tapping in.
Only a last-ditch block denied Hibs and Boyle a second after nice link-up play between Stevenson and Kamberi, with McKenna throwing himself in the path of the No.10’s goal-bound effort.
But he wasn’t to be denied with just over 20 minutes remaining. Great hold-up play and vision by
Kamberi sent Boyle racing through on the counter and he stayed calm to slide the ball past Lewis.
Kamberi then got his rewards for an impressive display, wrapping up the points with a fine solo goal. Cutting in from the left he skipped past two attempted challenges before finding the bottom corner.
From then on, it was about not taking any risks for Hibs.
Allan said: “It was the first time in my career I’ve punted the ball forward to nobody.
“That was an experience. The boy were buzzing with that. But if that’s what you need to do then that’s what you need to do.”
It was smiles all round as Hibs took the acclaim from the stands, with Boyle jigging his way up the tunnel, although his team-mate says that’s just his default setting.
Allan added: “He was skipping around like that when he was injured too!
“That’s just him in general. We’ve got a few good characters in this squad and he’s definitely the loudest.”