JOSH LIGHTS US UP LIKE LAMPS
Lee: Academy graduate Campbell times runs like midfield legend Lampard
Lee Johnson has told Josh Campbell to keep making it simple as he compared Hibs’ matchwinner to Chelsea legend Frank Lampard.
The Easter Road academy kid produced a deadly double as the Leith outfit came from a goal behind to dump Jim Goodwin’s 10-man Dons.
It all looked so promising for Aberdeen when Duk Lopes marked his f irst start with a fabulous early header.
But Liam Scales’ controversial sending off for a second yellow card on the stroke of half-time swung the game decisively in Hibs’ favour.
Goodwin was left fuming about ref David Dickinson’s decision to award a penalty as the Irishman tangled with Ryan Porteous in the box as the Dons boss insisted it would never have been given had VAR been switched on.
But it’s the Irishman who is likely to find himself in trouble after his astonishing rant which saw him brand the Hibs defender a “cheat”.
Martin Boyle tucked home the penalty to send Hibs in level at the break. But it was Campbell who clinched the points after twice timing his runs into the box to perfection as he buried the Dons with two clinical finishes.
That drew high praise from his boss who said: “Josh is trust-worthy, he’s one of the first names on the teamsheet.
“He’s a great lad. Simplifying his game is important so he can be that Lampard-type character.
“With fewer touches he can get more into the box up alongside the frontman. He’s a very fit player who can make a lot of runs in behind the back four.
“He’s been exceptional. He’s a young man who has come through the academy and that’s what we’re looking for.”
The win sees Hibs overtake Aberdeen as they move up to fourth and Johnson reckons his side have now put a difficult start to the season behind them.
He added: “We haven’t clicked this season and that’s been frustrating because a lot of work has been going in.
“I told the players I wanted this win a little bit more because they deserved more plaudits than they’ve been given.
“We’ve now leapfrogged Aberdeen but one swallow doesn’t make a summer. It’s a long season but I felt today we moved up another notch.”
It was difficult to make out which set of fans was the more responsible for the smattering of boos that tarnished the tributes to the Queen before kick-off.
But there was no doubt which side was making all the noise three minutes in as the Dons went in front. Lopes had it all to do as he met Hayden Coulson’s cross but the Cape Verde star’s deft header had just enough loop on it as it soared over David Marshall.
But that was about as good as it got for the away side as Kelle Roos’ goal lived an increasingly charmed life.
The Dons got away with one when Dickinson waved away Porteous’ penalty appeals after a Ross McCrorie hand ball in the box. Then skipper Anthony Stewart was lucky not to see red after tugging down Hibs debutant Mykola Kukharevych as the Ukraine Under-21 star darted in behind.
Roos did brilliantly to tip over Elie Yohan’s strike but the writing was on the wall as soon as Scales got his marching orders after two minutes of madness.
The on- loan Celtic defender should have been have known better than to get involved in a grapple with Porteous just moments after going into the book for clattering into Campbell. The pair gave as good as they got but with both hands around the Scotland defender, Scales gave Dickinson a decision to make and unfortunately for Aberdeen it was to point to the spot before flashing a second yellow.
Boyle, who celebrated becoming a father for the second time this week, was Daddy Cool as he stroked home his penalty just before the whistle blew for the break.
Campbell drew a groan when he failed to cut the ball back for Kukharevych to tap in soon after
the interval. But no one was complaining as he collected a pass from Chris Cadden before spinning to sweep past Roos on 63 minutes to put Hibs deservedly in front after a dominant start to the second half.
Campbell had the home fans off their feet again 10 minutes later as his goalscoring instincts again kicked in when Ross McCrorie tried to nod another Cadden cross down to his keeper.
By the time the former Rangers man looked up, Campbell was already off celebrating after prodding past the exposed Roos.