Aberdeen 2-0 Hibernian
06/11/20
SPL
Derek McInnes was pleased with what he described as an “honest” performance from his Dons side as Aberdeen beat Hibs to go third in the SPL.
Not only was the game a tussle for third spot but both sides would have been itching to put right their Scottish Cup defeats last weekend.
Fortune favoured Aberdeen after the Dons had won the last five on the bounce on a Friday.
It was a good night for the Reds with Sam Cosgrove in the goals after Derek McInnes revealed on Thursday that the Scottish Cup semi-final defeat might be Marley Watkins last game for the club before his loan spell from Bristol City ends.
“I thought overall it was a really honest, hard working performance from a team setting out to win.”
McInnes said of the performance against Hibs: “I thought overall it was a really honest, hard working performance from a team setting out to win, and we set about that task right from the off.”
Sam Cosgrove got on the score sheet for the first time after a three month injury lay-off.
Cosgrove suffered a knee injury in a friendly at the beginning of the season against Hibs.
On his returning striker and top scorer for the past two seasons, McInnes said there’s still a lot of work to do with him.
McInnes said of Cosgrove’s performance: “It’s so important he gives us that presence at the top of the pitch and to retain possession, and this will come.
“We now have a chance to get some good work into him and sharpen him up.”
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“I’ve been frank about my team’s performance, but in truth those two refereeing decisions are really poor tonight.”
Jack Ross came away form the game reeling, both at his side’s poor performance and the performance of the officials.
On his team’s efforts Ross said: “We gave away two ridiculously soft goals from our perspective.
“I’ve praised the players a lot this season but I’m going to be hard on them tonight because I’m determined to keep pushing us as a club. Tonight we were short of the levels we should be at.”
Ross was also fuming at refereeing decisions, lamenting the fact his side didn’t get a second-half penalty or Aberdeen get a player sent off for what the Hibs boss thought was a foul by the last man.
A fuming Ross said: “We should have had a penalty in the second half and a free-kick on the edge of the box that would have given the referee a decision to send an Aberdeen player off.
“I’ve been frank about my team’s performance, but in truth those two referring decisions are really poor tonight.”
The win sees Aberdeen go into the international break leapfrogging Hibs to third in the table, a point ahead of the Hibees with a game in hand.
Match recap: Smash and grab job
Aberdeen sealed the game within twelve minutes after Hibernian begun in disarray.
Scott Wright finished well in the box off a Lewis Ferguson flick after five minutes.
Seven minutes later Sam Cosgrove, getting only his second start of the season after recovering from a knee injury, finished one-on-one against Ofir Marciano like he’d never been out.
Ryan Porteous’s clearance ricocheted off Wright into Cosgrove’s path. The big striker carried the ball forward and finished with a nonchalant flick of the outside of his boot.
One of the big turning points came midway through the second half when Martin Boyle appeared to be bundled over by Matty Kennedy in the box, but referee Euan Anderson waived penalty appeals away.
It’s eight years since Hibs last came to Pittodrie and won.
Craig Brown resided over Aberdeen then, the season before Derek McInnes joined the club.
Sean O’Hanlon and a Mark Reynolds own goal gave Hibs a 2-1 victory on the day, however since then the Hibees exploits in the North East have reaped meagre reward.
Aberdeen’s emphatic performance tonight in response to their tame exit from the Scottish Cup last week ensures Derek McInnes remains undefeated at home against the Hibees during his tenure.
Aberdeen: Lewis (c), Hoban, Considine, Taylor, Hedges, Wright, Ferguson, Kennedy (->78′), Cosgrove (->71′), McCrorie, McLennan (->85′)
Subs: Woods, Logan (<-85′), Ojo, Hernandez, McGinn, Devlin, Leigh (<-78′), Main (<-71′), Edmondson
Hibernian: Marciano, McGinn, Porteous, Hanlon (c), Doig, Boyle, Gogic, Newell (->61′), Murphy (->67′), Doidge, Nisbet (->77′ Gullan)
Subs: Gray, Wright (<-67′), Mallan (<-61′), Gullan (<-77′), Hallberg, McGinn, McGregor, Mackie, Barnes
Goals: Wright 5′, Cosgrove 12′
Up next:
Aberdeen’s first game back after the international break is Rangers at Ibrox. Sunday, 22nd Nov, 12:00 KO.
Harry Jamshid Reporter Sports Pages 