On Boyle Martin bags brace to see off Dons
HIBS 2 Boyle (27 pen, 67) ABERDEEN 0
Hibs head coach Jack Ross insists Martin Boyle is back to his best after watching the winger hit both goals against Aberdeen.
The Australian international scored either side of half-time as the Leith outfit moved five points clear of the Dons in third place.
Boyle has struggled for consistency this season but Ross has been delighted with his recent input amid a purple patch that has seen the 27-year-old hit three goals in four games
Ross said: “He’s looked back to his best, he is another one who had a bit of a dip and some personal issues when we left him out a few weeks ago.
“I think he benefited from that rest mentally and physically. He has settled a lot now and bringing in Chris Cadden has helped a lot because it has allowed us to free him up further up the pitch.
“He is probably a bit frustrated he did not get that
hat-trick but his contribution to the game was excellent.”
Ross decided to go with the same team that beat St Mirren on Tuesday evening, meaning Kevin Nisbet and Ryan Porteous again had to be content with warming the bench.
Aberdeen were already without Ryan Hedges and they lost Greg Leigh with a hamstring problem after six minutes.
However, the Dons were thankful that they did not suffer any more damage at that stage.
Leigh sustained the injury with a slack pass back to his goalkeeper, allowing Cadden a sight of goal.
But Joe Lewis quickly dashed from his line to make the block.
At the other end, Ofir Mariano beat away a low Ross McCrorie first time drive.
But it was the Dons keeper who had a busier first half. Lewis then kept out a Martin Boyle effort from a tight angle after the forward was found with a penetrating pass from Jackson Irvine.
But Boyle got the better of Lewis from the penalty spot after 27 minutes as the hosts went ahead.
Lewis Ferguson caught Jamie Murphy late just inside the box and Boyle fired home.
The Aberdeen rear-guard was looking shaky. Boyle again found himself with just Lewis
to beat after being slipped in by Murphy but the Dons keeper made the save.
Hibs continued to look lively at the start of the second half. Irvine sent an exquisite pass to Christian Doidge inside the area but Lewis came rushing out to smother the ball at the Englishman’s feet.
The Dons brought on Niall McGinn and Callum Hendry as they sought inspiration.
But it was Hibs substitute Lewis Stevenson who made an impact in setting up Boyle for the second in the 67th minute.
Within seconds of replacing Josh Doig, Stevenson found Boyle in the box and the forward slipped an effort under Lewis.
Hibs’ lead was rarely threatened although the home team did heave a collective sigh of relief in the final 10 minutes when Fraser Hornby’s header struck Paul Hanlon and came back off Marciano’s bar.
With Hibs having won three games and held onto both the aforementioned Nisbet and Porteous after the transfer window, Ross was asked if it had been a good week.
He replied: “My assistant ( John Potter) tells me a lot you’re better being on the rollercoaster than the merry-go-round.
“It’s unusual for him to come out with something as wise as that but it’s very true and sums up football management well.”