This is how it feels (Aberdeen 14 October)

[O'Rourke3]

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I don't actually see anything wrong with what Aberdeen did today.

It was excellent game management and that is something we have been lacking this season.

Game management. Mmmmn professional speak like "there was contact", "he was entitled to go down" "took one for the team there" "sending off was harsh tackle was on the half way line". Dons got off with stuff we didn't and were better at it hence SJM booking which was just after a clear assault wide right that neither ref nor lino saw any problem with. Mark Oxley was booked for the same ritual Every time he took a bye kick. Lewis was reminded 4 or 5 times to move it. Christie and GMS given talkings to then continued to foul. Game management newspeak for timewasting,cheating and hacking. Doubleplusgood innit?

[Hiber-nation]

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I don't actually see anything wrong with what Aberdeen did today.

It was excellent game management and that is something we have been lacking this season.

Yep, if we'd gone to Pittodrie and played like that everyone would be raving about how great it is to win ugly etc etc.

[hibbydog]

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Yep, if we'd gone to Pittodrie and played like that everyone would be raving about how great it is to win ugly etc etc.

Agreed.

The moralising about anti football is getting tiresome. I’d go so far as to say that playing nicely but getting nothing is engrained in our culture as a club.

We really need to man up and get on with it

[CorrieHibs]

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Over the many years I’ve watched Hibs v Aberdeen games I’ve often been impressed with the Dons and their style of football. Today brought me the opposite reaction, watching a Dons side playing anti-football and using fair means and foul to beat a Hibs team that played well enough but failed to deliver where it matters, in the final third. To be fair, Aberdeen did have passages of play worthy of their predecessors, but they were few and far between as getting eleven men behind the ball and kicking any Hibs player that looked to be causing them danger went largely unpunished by a poor referee.

I’m trying hard not to offer up my thoughts as a rant against a side that defended in depth and took every opportunity to waste time, after taking the lead in the 38th minute, but it’s not an easy task and at the end of the day, Hibs just weren’t cute enough to capitalise on their dour approach.

I felt that for the first fifteen minutes or so we played like we did at Celtic Park and stood off the Dons, allowing them time in possession. After that, we started to play a bit and were unlucky not to score from a Whittaker header and a cracking Slivka drive that hit the outside of the post. What was worrying me was the amount of second ball we were allowing Aberdeen to have and that cost us the opening and only goal of the game. Slack play allowed McLean to gather the ball in, put a super ball through behind Stevenson and Mackay-Steven did what Martin Boyle failed to do the whole game in anticipating the pass before drawing Laidlaw off his line and slotting the ball low beyond him.

From that moment on, there was only one side looking to score and it wasn’t the Dons. Their negativity surprised me because I thought a team sharing top spot in our league would play decent football and try and add to their opener. Instead they all got behind the ball when not in possession and resorted to hacking down any Hibs player that looked like they may cause a problem. Referee Steven McLean was, to my mind, overly lenient of these tactics and totally baffled the crowd by allowing such hacks to go unpunished whilst booking John McGinn for a challenge where the Hibs man clearly won the ball.

A goal down at half time was the same situation that we faced at Celtic Park and I hoped we could go on and play like we did there with Stokes bringing out a quality save from a free kick, not long into the second period. For long spells we dominated the ball but just couldn’t find that crucial pass as the Dons packed their penalty area. On numerous occasions we held off from taking a shot at goal, allowing blocks to deflect or clear those efforts and although the referee quite rightly added five minutes of additional time we just couldn’t get the equaliser I felt our efforts deserved.

The players

Laidlaw – no chance with the goal and commanded his area pretty well throughout.

Whitty – had what I feel has been his best performance since his return. If I could pick a fault it was with his final cross into the box.

Efe – played well and his anticipation of where the ball might arrive is a joy to behold. In true Efe fashion, he threw in a couple of nut-megs today, just to keep us on our toes.

Hanlon – was battered and barged throughout by Rooney but stood his ground, was excellent in the air/on the ground and earned the sponsors man of the match, a decision I wholeheartedly agree with.

Lewis – badly caught out for the goal but given the lack of support offered by Boyler he did pretty well and though he probably deserved his booking he must have been mightily peeved when similar challenges from Aberdeen players went unpunished.

Slivka – a quiet game and I’ll say again what I’ve said before, he is wasted in the wide right position. Was unlucky when his snap shot hit the outside of the post as, had it been on target it was a goal, Joe Lewis in the Aberdeen goal being rooted to the spot.

Dylan – the wee man is such a good footballer and great in possession. If I were to highlight what I perceive as a fault in his game it would be that he sometimes delays the obvious pass unnecessarily.

Marv – big man was excellent today, mopping up when team mates got into trouble. At first I was surprised he was being subbed but it soon dawned on me that NL was trying to enhance our attacking option while realising that Aberdeen had settled for the one goal and would rarely venture forward.

SJM – I wish I had a pound for every time he was scythed down today. It was disgraceful that Steven McLean allowed it to go largely unpunished and I’m still mystified as to why McGinn’s brilliantly timed tackle in midfield earned a yellow when he clearly and fairly won the ball.

Boyler – Martin was not at the races today. Seemed to be caught on his heels a lot and unable to anticipate where Stokes might play the ball too.

Stokes – such a clever player who reads the game so well. He was unlucky with his free kick and unlucky to be let down in terms of getting support up to him when he had the ball.

Barker – took a while to settle in but later in the game had a number of telling runs and it was obvious the Dons didn’t like that as they crowded him out on numerous occasions.

Danny – easily barged off the ball but he’s gutsy, I’ll give him that. His magic feet got him into dangerous positions a few times but there were so many red shirts in the box it was impossible for him to break through.

Simon – I wanted him on at half time for Boyle as I felt his pace and willingness to track back would have served us better. As it was he got ten minutes and little or no opportunity to hurt them.

Neil Lennon – I listened to Lenny’s after match interview and it was hard to disagree with what he said although I feel he over-egged it in saying we were excellent. We played well enough but not in the areas that matter and given that Aberdeen’s tactic after scoring was obvious, I felt the subs should have been made sooner. One thing I did notice, deep into injury time was Neil finger pointing at what I can only assume was an irate fan. I’d like to have heard that exchange!

Referee – all the ‘good will’ I felt towards him following his performance on 21st May 2016, went out of the window today. This was a baffling and inept performance by the man with the whistle but I guess he may think he’s done his job as both sets of fans were booing him during the game.

Great summary. Spot on

[matty_f]

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Game management. Mmmmn professional speak like "there was contact", "he was entitled to go down" "took one for the team there" "sending off was harsh tackle was on the half way line". Dons got off with stuff we didn't and were better at it hence SJM booking which was just after a clear assault wide right that neither ref nor lino saw any problem with. Mark Oxley was booked for the same ritual Every time he took a bye kick. Lewis was reminded 4 or 5 times to move it. Christie and GMS given talkings to then continued to foul. Game management newspeak for timewasting,cheating and hacking. Doubleplusgood innit?

Cracking post.

[Thegreenside]

Do not have a clue how anyone thought we where the better team today. Did not create one clear cut chance all game. The dons looked very dangerous the first 35-40 mins

[CallumLaidlaw]

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Do not have a clue how anyone thought we where the better team today. Did not create one clear cut chance all game. The dons looked very dangerous the first 35-40 mins

Dons started better. We grew into game and from 15-45 mins it was very even. Hibs much more dominant in 2nd half.


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[Firestarter]

We go up there snatch a 1-0 nobody complains. They done what they had to do to sit top of the league, comfortably.

[Thegreenside]

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Dons started better. We grew into game and from 15-45 mins it was very even. Hibs much more dominant in 2nd half.


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agreed we played in but only when they where happy to sit. we didn't have a killer pass/chance the whole game. they looked very comfortable with the 1-0

[hibby6270]

Great summary Johnnyboy.

Aberdeen were as ineffectual in the final third as we were today. Only difference was we were the ones at least trying to break through in that final part of the pitch. Their ‘park the bus’ tactics after they scored totally spoiled what COULD have been a great game. It was like being back in the Championship but with the addition of some fairly brutal fouling on their part to break up play.

[NAE NOOKIE]

Good summary of the match and not a lot to disagree with. Another poster made a good point about Aberdeen using a tactic often employed by the Yams of fouling in rotation so that nobody is looking at a second booking. What Aberdeen did was indeed good game management, but if that's quantified by hacking down any Hibs player who looked like breaking away and time wasting for pretty well all of the 2nd half then lets hope we don't have to suffer too many Aberdeens at ER this season.

[green day]

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We go up there snatch a 1-0 nobody complains. They done what they had to do to sit top of the league, comfortably.

Agree 100%.

The Don's were not pretty yesterday, but their midfield was much sharper than ours.

That they also do the dirty work to secure 3 points means they are a clever team.

I just hope we are not saying the same "big boys hit us" sob story after the Jambos come.

[LancsHibs]

Aberdeen did a professional job on us and left overjoyed with their 3 points. It was a massive game for them, evident by the way their players & fans celebrated at the end. McInnes got his tactics right and 'plan A' unfolded nicely for them. It wasn't pretty but they won and that's what matters, they got the goal and contained us to creating very little. It was McInnes 1 Lennon 0 yesterday.

[Mikey]

Nice one John. The press might as well give up on reporting on Hibs games as you won't find anything better than your summaries anywhere.

[Billy Whizz]

Thorough report JB. I actually enjoyed the game yesterday. Had all the things we like about Scottish football, heavy tackles, bookings, and both teams giving it 100%. Paul Hanlon was definitely head and shoulders above everyone else, well done Paul. Our defence nullified May and Rooney, would hardly know they were playing
As everyone else has said, it’s in the last 1/3 we’ve been disappointing

[CMurdoch]

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Thorough report JB. I actually enjoyed the game yesterday. Had all the things we like about Scottish football, heavy tackles, bookings, and both teams giving it 100%. Paul Hanlon was definitely head and shoulders above everyone else, well done Paul. Our defence nullified May and Rooney, would hardly know they were playing
As everyone else has said, it’s in the last 1/3 we’ve been disappointing

Good post BW. I really enjoyed the game yesterday. It benchmarks where we are as a team and confirmed where our weakness lies.
Great report by the OP. Agree with all your player assessments.

[Stantons Angel]

" One thing I did notice, deep into injury time was Neil finger pointing at what I can only assume was an irate fan. I’d like to have heard that exchange!"


Seemingly Lennon reacted to a supporter behind him shouting that Hibs were rubbish by telling him to " F--- Off, what game are you at?"

[weecounty hibby]

McInnes has done a great job there and finds ways to win. For the whole second half yesterday May was playing left back and Rooney was at right back. Was horrible to watch and McLean let them away with murder both in the way he let them foul Hibs players and McGinn in particular and the blatant time wasting. I thought we were ok yesterday and on another day Whittakers header goes in, Slivka shot is the other side of the post, we score one of the half decent efforts from the second half go in and we walk away with a good win. Paul Hanlon is a class act and surely is in line for a call up for the upcoming friendly against Holland

[Jonnyboy]

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" One thing I did notice, deep into injury time was Neil finger pointing at what I can only assume was an irate fan. I’d like to have heard that exchange!"


Seemingly Lennon reacted to a supporter behind him shouting that Hibs were rubbish by telling him to " F--- Off, what game are you at?"

Cheers, I did wonder

[poulton hibs]

Great summary as usual.

I thought McGinn got booked for the backchat rather than the foul. He seemed to be yapping at the ref for a while before the card came out. Might be wrong but thats how I saw it.

[WeeHibby]

Love reading these, thanks JB

[CockneyRebel]

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I don't actually see anything wrong with what Aberdeen did today.

It was excellent game management and that is something we have been lacking this season.

Do you actually know the rules of the game?

[superfurryhibby]

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agreed we played in but only when they where happy to sit. we didn't have a killer pass/chance the whole game. they looked very comfortable with the 1-0

I think you may need to have a look at the highlights again, we created a fair number of chances.

Decent summary of the game. Cutting edge and a bit of luck running our way. Tactics weren't right either and we hampered our chances by being too cautious.

[R'Albin]

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Do you actually know the rules of the game?

They were dirty at times but effective. I'd love us to go and play like that at Pittodrie and win 1-0 and I'm sure you would too.

Man for man the sides are similar quality but the main difference between the two is that they can see a game like that out while we can't seem to.