Martin Boyle celebrates scoring for HibsSNS

At a glance

  • Smart Nisbet finish gives Aberdeen first-half lead

  • Boyle penalty earns Hibs a draw after Milne foul

  • Managerless Hibs avoid fourth straight league loss; Aberdeen unbeaten in three

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19/09/26

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Thomas Duncan
BBC Sport Scotland

Managerless Hibernian showed some determination and fight to come back and earn a draw in the Scottish Premiership against improving Aberdeen at Easter Road.

Club legend David Gray was sacked as head coach after Tuesday's defeat by bottom side Kilmarnock, a sixth home league loss in a row stretching back to last season.

Initially there was little response to the dismissal of a much-loved Hibs figure, and Kevin Nisbet ensured there were again boos at half-time at Easter Road after a neat turn and finish gave Aberdeen the lead.

However, Hibs came out with far more impetus in the second half and eventually levelled through Martin Boyle's penalty, after Aberdeen defender Jack Milne bundled over Jason Kerr.

Both clubs knew the importance of heading into the international break with a victory and were aggressive in their pursuit of three points.

But quality in the final third let both sides down, with headers from Aberdeen's Milne and Hibernian's Ante Suto both failing to find the net when both ought to have scored.

Hibs, under the interim management of John Potter, did though prevent an unprecedented seventh straight home league loss while Aberdeen stretch their unbeaten Premiership run to three matches.

Hibs analysis: Response comes after difficult week

It has been a challenging week for the Hibs squad, as their bosses ultimately decided the popular and relatively successful Gray was no longer the man to take them forward after just six league matches.

Potter, in his second spell as a coach at Easter Road, talked about overcoming that blow and accentuating the positives to lift the mood.

Initially, it did not work. Callum Wright aside, Hibs were flat and nervy, often giving the ball up to an Aberdeen side who relished counter-attacking opportunities.

But Hibs emerged a different side in the second half. There was more directness, intensity, and aggression about them and ultimately they deserved their equaliser.

As rousing as the second period was, though, the same questions will linger over the international break.

Why can Hibs rarely deliver a consistent performance over 90 minutes? Why do they start games so slowly? Does the squad have enough quality?

These are the key issues for the next manager, and who that person will be is now the focus as club football takes a three-week hiatus.

Graphic

Aberdeen analysis: Change of shape steadies Dons

Robinson remarkably said "shape is for pundits" in one interview as Aberdeen toiled at the start of the campaign while playing 4-3-3.

Since then, the Northern Irishman has gone back to using three centre-backs and two strikers, a system which brought him consistent success at St Mirren.

The effect has been clear to see. Aberdeen are more solid, better at pressing, and look a threat when breaking forward given the pace they have up front.

Centre-back Mats Knoester and midfielder Afeez Aremu have been transformational in recent games.

The former is by far the club's best defender, while Aremu gets all over the pitch and wins the ball before playing simple passes to get moves going.

For all Hibs' second-half play, it will anger the Aberdeen boss that a silly challenge from Milne ultimately cost his side three points, after Nisbet's excellent touch, turn, and finish put them in front.

It was the third game in a row the striker has scored in, and there are lingering questions about who else will contribute to the Aberdeen tally this season.

But after a torrid start, Robinson will be content that he is starting to build the foundations for a more promising season.

What they said

Should Aberdeen's Nisbet be in Scotland squad?

Hibernian interim head coach John Potter: "The feeling at the end was we definitely deserved a point. You get greedy and think we were pushing for a second and we did get into a few good areas and had a few efforts on goal. But we know Aberdeen are always a threat going the other way.

"But at Hibs we need to win games at home, it's straightforward, but we'll take the draw but there's a bit of disappointment we couldn't get three."

Aberdeen manager Stephen Robinson: "I thought it could have been three, but a point is fair. We knew Hibs would have some sort of bounce in the second half, and they did.

"We sat a little bit too deep, but some of our counter-attacking play was really good. We probably have the best chance to win it with Jack Milne.

"But if you sit so deep, there is always going to be a mistake at some stage and we got punished for that. But the week as a whole has been very productive and positive."

Player of the match

K. Nisbet
6.93
1 R. Sallinger
5.32
23 C. Wright
4.95
8 J. Mulligan
4.73
3 A. Mayor
4.71
6 J. Kerr
4.70
7 O. Elding
4.49
14 M. Chaiwa
4.48
15 J. Iredale
4.47
25 F. Passlack
4.46
10 M. Boyle
4.45
4 G. Hanley
4.44
9 N. Lowe
4.09
11 J. Newell
3.91
22 A. Å uto
3.76
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