Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Confident Dons ease past Hibs
DEREK MCINNES says his Aberdeen team will go to Premiership leaders Celtic next week in confident mood after registering three straight wins.
The Dons turned on the style to defeat Hibs 4-1 at Pittodrie on Saturday, with Gary Mackay-steven scoring a hat-trick.
The winger’s treble came after an early opener from Graeme Shinnie, who also put through his own net in stoppage time for Hibs’ consolation goal.
The victory, coupled with Rangers’ defeat to St Johnstone, saw the Dons reclaim second spot in the table ahead of their visit to Parkhead.
Mcinnes said: “It will be another tough game but I could not be more pleased with the players going into it. We are well aware of what is ahead because when you go to Parkhead, it is a tough game.”
“But if we can play anywhere near like we can, and we showed signs of it against Hibs, then hopefully it will be a tough game for Celtic as well.”
After his side’s Pittodrie defeat, Hibs manager Neil Lennon refused to criticise Efe Ambrose, who was given a torrid time by Mackaysteven.
Lennon said: “Efe is the least of my worries.
“He is the only one who tries to play and he is the only one who takes responsibility. My ‘keeper looks short of confidence just now and my two centrehalves were poor, as were my midfield three, and I got nothing from the players going forward.”