Hibernian's recent form continued its upward trend with a convincing 3-1 victory against Aberdeen at Pittodrie Stadium, marking their second consecutive win and pushing them away from the relegation zone. The match, held on December 21, 2024, showcased the resilience of Hibernian, highlighted by the impressive performance of forward Martin Boyle.
Aberdeen opened the scoring early on, through Topi Keskinen, who found the back of the net after just 14 minutes of play. Set up by Leighton Clarkson, Keskinen was allowed space on the left flank and unleashed a powerful shot past Hibernian goalkeeper Jordan Smith, giving the home side hope. The goal came amid high expectations from the Dons after they had taken advantage of a free week prior to the match, which brought back Jack MacKenzie from injury among several changes from their recent draw against St Johnstone.
Only minutes after falling behind, Hibernian responded with urgency, leveling the score at 1-1. Following a long clearance from Smith, the ball was flicked on by Josh Campbell, but it was the mistake from Aberdeen defender Slobodan Rubezic—who mishit his clearance—that allowed Boyle to steal the ball and assist Elie Youan for the equalizer with precision.
The visitors, under the guidance of manager David Gray, gradually carved out opportunities against the Dons' defense, who were clearly shaken after the equalizer. Hibernian’s momentum surged, and they took control of the game, with Martin Boyle proving to be central to their offensive efforts. Just before halftime, Boyle created another goal, standing firm against Gavin Molloy's defense to deliver a perfect cross for Nicky Cadden, who scored with authority, giving Hibernian the lead.
Hibs entered the second half with renewed confidence and decisively secured their position with Boyle finding the back of the net himself soon after the break. Capitalizing on Nectarios Triantis's interception of Clarkson's loose pass, Boyle was fed the ball and skillfully tucked his shot beyond Ross Doohan, extending the lead to 3-1.
Despite having the wind at their back, Aberdeen struggled to penetrate Hibernian's solid backline as they sought to claw back the game. Opportunities were few and far between for the Dons, only registering a tenuous effort from Sivert Heltne Nilsen, whose deflected shot skimmed just over the crossbar. Substitute Peter Ambrose appeared poised to score but missed the target following Nicky Devlin's cross, reinforcing Aberdeen's struggles throughout the match.
After the final whistle, Jimmy Thelin, Aberdeen's manager, reflected on the mistakes and the lack of composure shown by his side. "Football is a team sport, and mistakes will happen within a game, but you can't get so hurt from a mistake, and that's a sign you're not balanced as a team or covering for each other," he stated. Thelin signaled the importance of improving team dynamics and urged for focus both on the training ground and during matches.
Conversely, David Gray celebrated Hibernian's third victory from their last four matches. Gray praised his players for their determination and adaptability to the windy conditions. "It's a huge result and a huge performance. Full credit to the players for a 90-minute performance," said Gray. He explained how the team had demonstrated remarkable character, particularly after the early goal conceded, and added, "The players need to take the credit and confidence from it, but it's not just this week - it's been building for a While."
Hibernian's victory at Pittodrie not only secures three points but reinforces their aspirations for improved standing moving forward. Meanwhile, Aberdeen's slip out of the top two places and growing winless streak will pose challenges for Thelin's side as they seek to regain their competitive edge.
