Maclaren says Hibees enjoy home comforts

JAMIE MACLAREN says Hibernian are drawing inspiration from their formidable home record after they pegged back Aberdeen to remain unbeaten at Easter Road in 2018.

The Australia international climbed from the bench in the second period to bag a dramatic 85th-minute leveller, cancelling out Tommie Hoban’s maiden goal for the Dons.

Despite dominating large swathes of the contest, the hosts were largely toothless without Florian Kamberi in attack and appeared destined to succumb to their first reverse in Leith since losing to Rangers last December.

However, Maclaren’s intervention ensured their impressive streak continued.

He said: “That is something we do talk about in the dressing room before the game. No matter who we play it is a case of: we are unbeaten here in 2018, let’s keep it up.

“It is something we can take confidence from and I think the fans feel it as well, because you could hear the noise as we tried to get the goal to win the game.

“We dropped two points, as we wanted to win the game, but we will take the positives.”

Maclaren’s closerange finish opened his account for his second loan spell at Easter Road from Bundesliga 2 outfit SV Darmstadt, and he is hopeful it proves to be the start of another prolific campaign.

He said: “I probably touched the ball three times in 15 minutes and one of them was goal!

“That is what the gaffer has brought me in for and I am just glad I could contribute.”