Restricting Boyle is the key for Dons

Aberdeen’s meeting with Hibernian at Easter Road on Saturday will be a much-changed affair from their last meeting.

A quick glance back at the starting XIs from when these sides last met on May 7 makes for interesting viewing.

Just five players are expected to still be in the starting line-up of the home side from the 1-1 draw at Easter Road, in Ryan Porteous, Paul Hanlon, Joe Newell, Ewan Henderson and Josh Campbell.

The Dons, for their part, will have only three players from their starting line-up in the team which takes to the pitch at Easter Road in Vicente Besuijen, Jonny Hayes and Ross McCrorie.

With 17 signings in total Lee Johnson has been one of, if not the, busiest manager in the top flight.

Dons boss Jim Goodwin seems almost meagre in comparison with 11 new faces on board at Pittodrie.

Hibs moved quickly to fend off Aberdeen’s interest in attacker Martin Boyle by securing him on a new deal in August 2021 and that enabled them to command a seven-figure fee when Saudi Arabian side Al-Faisaly came calling for his services in January.

However, relegation from the top flight in Saudi meant Boyle was on his way back to Scotland and Hibs moved quickly to bring the Australian international back to Easter Road last month.

With two goals, the first a stoppage-time equaliser in the Edinburgh derby on his debut, the 29 year-old has wasted little time in showing why the Hibees were so keen to have him back in their ranks.

His last two appearances have come as a right winger and it’s fair to say the jury is out on whether that is his best position.

But if he is going to feature for the third game in a row on the ring wing then the responsibility for keeping him in check this weekend will fall to Hayden Coulson at left-back and left central-defender Liam Scales.

We’ve focused on the balance Coulson brings to the side already this season but it is his defensive qualities which will be needed on this occasion.

Hibs have looked to get Boyle involved as much as possible and stopping the supply will be crucial for the tandem of Coulson and Scales – and in all likelihood Jonny Hayes further up the pitch.

If you can stop Boyle from pushing forward then he can be nullified. Restricting the supply is even better.

St Mirren did both to great effect in Paisley when the sides met on August 27.

Hibs had 70% possession against the hosts and more passes and accurate crosses, but they had no end product at all.

Richard Tait stayed deep for the game in Paisley and Boyle was not involved in the game as a result.

The Hibs man was so restricted he had one touch of the ball in the Saints box, was successful with just three of his nine crosses and did not complete a successful dribble in the game.

St Mirren succeeded in nullifying Boyle but Kilmarnock struggled in the next fixture on September 3.

The difference was space. Hibs were able to exploit it after former Don Ash Taylor was sent off in the 11th minute.

In fact just 70 seconds passed between Taylor’s dismissal and Joe Newell scoring the only goal of the game for Johnson’s side.

Discipline will be key from Coulson, as emulating St Mirren’s Tait can ensure Boyle has less of an impact on Saturday.

DANGER MAN: Martin Boyle has scored twice for Hibernian after returning to the Leith club in the summer.