Battle for second hot sup as Dons and hibs draw a blank
They were both gunning for second place, but Aberdeen and Hibs drew a blank to leave the race for the Premiership runner-up spot wide open.
Dons keeper Joe Lewis saved an early Jamie Maclaren penalty to deny Hibs a quick-fire lead.
Then Niall Mcginn rifled a free-kick off the bar as the home side seized the initiative.
In the end, neither side could find a way through.
And thanks to Rangers’ late victory over Kilmarnock, Tuesday night’s clash between the Gers and the Dons in the Granite City is now a serious powder keg.
Aberdeen have a one point lead over the Ibrox side and a three-point advantage over Hibs.
But the Hibees are still well and truly in the running.
Their hopes of a landmark second-place finish rest on an enormous Edinburgh derby at Tynecastle, followed by a meeting with Rangers next Sunday.
It promises to be an explosive week. And, while yesterday’s contest ultimately turned into a damp squib, it at least started with a bang.
The Dons, without the suspended Kenny Mclean, had Anthony O’connor booked within a minute for a late challenge on John Mcginn.
It wouldn’t be the last flashpoint of a first half that saw five yellow cards flashed by referee John Beaton.
And it wouldn’t be the last Mcginn was involved in.
Hibs showed their intent early on when Martin Boyle, with Mark Reynolds deployed at left-back by the Dons to handle his pace, flashed a deadly cross across the face of goal.
There were no takers, but Neil Lennon’s side surged forward again to win a penalty with just six minutes on the clock.
It was a no-brainer for the ref, who watched Reynolds steamrollering Jamie Maclaren from behind after Steven Whittaker sent the Australian hit man clear.
Unfortunately for Hibs, Maclaren’s spotkick was a no-hoper, and Joe Lewis got down low to his right to preserve the early equilibrium.
Having started on the back foot, Aberdeen quickly worked a foothold.
Stevie May curled a tame free-kick wide of the post, then Graeme Shinnie watched a deflected 20-yard effort fly past the post. Hibs star Maclaren had a golden chance to make up for his penalty miss when Boyle’s cross found him unmarked at the back post on 24 minutes, but the Aussie sent his header over the bar.
There had been a competitive edge to the game from the start.
With so much at stake for both teams, that was hardly surprising.
When Mcginn sent Gary Mackay-steven flying into the Hibs dugout with a wild, late challenge just before the break, the contest threatened to boil over.
Dons boss Derek Mcinnes, in particular, was incensed by the challenge and Mcginn was lucky to escape with a booking.
And when Niall Mcginn curled a free-kick off the bar on the stroke of half-time, Hibs were lucky to head up the tunnel on terms.
Mackay-steven is unfairly tagged by as a player who lacks bravery.
But anybody who watches him take the knocks he gets served up to him on a weekly basis – and bounce up off the turf, ready to take the next one – knows that is nonsense.
In the second half, his clear frustration over Mcginn’s challenge saw him thunder into tackles of his own in a display of pure guts and determination. It was impressive stuff.
But Hibs were just as gutsy and determined.
The Dons enjoyed the lions’ share of possession as the game progressed, but struggled to break through the well-drilled ranks of the Easter Road side.
It’s no fluke that Neil Lennon’s team are flying so high in their first season back in the Premiership.
It’s down to hard work and talent.
They offered proof when Dylan Mcgeouch, on for Scott Allan, and Mcginn combined to send Florian Kamberi through with just over 10 minutes to go, but Lewis blocked the Swiss striker’s near post effort.
After that, all that was left was huff and puff, and the prospect of a breathless seven days to come.