Hibernian 2 Aberdeen 0: The big talking points as toothless Dons are beaten in Edinburgh
A familiar lack of attacking threat costs Aberdeen dear as they end the year with defeat at Easter Road.
Shot-shy Aberdeen paid the price as they were edged out 2-0 by Hibernian at Easter Road.
A familiar tale of recent weeks continued for Jimmy Thelin’s side as they suffered a defeat which sees them drop out of the top six in the Scottish Premiership in their final game of 2025.
Dons boss Thelin made four changes from the side who drew 1-1 with Dundee United on Saturday with captain Graeme Shinnie, Topi Keskinen, Kevin Nisbet and Dante Polvara all dropping to the bench.
Emmanuel Gyamfi came in for his first start since November while Alexander Jensen returned at right wing-back. Kjartan Mar Kjartansson made his first start for the club in midfield, with Marko Lazetic leading the line.
The first half featured little in the way of goalmouth action. Hibs had an early chance when Warren O’Hora’s long ball forward sent Martin Boyle clear down the right channel and his lob beat Dimitar Mitov… only to land on the roof of the Aberdeen goalkeeper’s net.
Aberdeen’s best opportunity of a forgettable opening 45 minutes came when Jesper Karlsson and Stuart Armstrong linked up before Armstrong crossed for Jensen who could not direct his header on target.
But the home side moved up the gears after the break, and their early second half pressure paid off just after the hour mark as former Don Jamie McGrath’s pass released Elie Youan in the box and he squared for Thibault Klidje to score from eight yards.
Dons boss Thelin threw on his attacking substitutes as he chased an equaliser, and Kevin Nisbet did have the ball in the back of the net in the 85th minute, but his goal was disallowed for offside.
But over the 90 minutes the Dons simply did not do enough in the final third and they were punished again in stoppage time as Mitov was beaten at his near post by former Don Junior Hoilett in what was another disappointing display from Thelin’s side.
Here’s three things we learned from Easter Road:
A first start for Kjartansson
The sight of Kjartansson in an Aberdeen starting line-up is something many Dons fans have been calling for and the Icelandic youth international certainly merited a place after two encouraging cameos off the bench in the last two matches.
The 19-year-old looked neat and tidy on his first start for the Dons, but he had little influence as an attacking threat for his side in the opening 45 minutes.
Those duties were reserved for Kjartansson’s central midfield partner Adil Aouchiche, with the young Don invariably finding himself as the holding player.
Hibs increased the tempo after the break as they searched for a breakthrough, leading to Kjartansson being sacrificed in favour of the combative qualities of his captain Shinnie.
Gyamfi returns
The return of Gyamfi at left wing-back gave the Dons a more attacking option down the left and the German looked a threat when he got on the ball in forward areas.
The biggest issue, however, was opportunities to do so were scarce with balls played up to Jesper Karlsson or Lazetic dealt with easily by the home defence.
Defensively, Gyamfi did well up against his Hibs counterpart Kanayo Megwa in his 77-minute appearance, and his return to the team, and the performance of Jensen down the right, were amid the few positives of a disappointing night for the Dons in the capital.
Dons look blunt in the final third
Aberdeen’s failure to make their set-piece opportunities count stood out like a sore thumb in the weekend draw with Dundee United.
Sadly, it was no better at Easter Road with the Dons winning corners but failing to test the Hibs defence with any of them.
Open play was not much better, but at least Jensen managed to deliver a cross into the box just before the break – unfortunately, it was straight into the arms of the waiting Hibs goalkeeper Raphael Sallinger.
Following Hibernian’s breakthrough goal, Thelin changed his entire forward line as he chased an equaliser.
It came as no surprise following a largely ineffective hour from the attacking trio of Armstrong, Lazetic and Karlsson.
Aberdeen are neat and tidy, and can retain possession well. But as an attacking threat, they lack penetration and tempo too often and it is costing them dear as they find themselves slipping out of contention.
If Thelin cannot find a solution soon, the second half of the season is in danger of becoming a slog.
[Source: Press and Journal]
