Aberdeen 1 Hibs 0
Hibernian’s incredible unbeaten run in the William Hill Premiership came to an end at Pittodrie in the first game of the league split.
The Hibees were 17 games without defeat going into the game, with Kevin Nisbet’s 80th minute strike giving Aberdeen three points in the race for European places.
The result leaves Hibs and Aberdeen joint third in the table with four games left to play.
David Gray’s men came into the fixture with confidence, having beaten the Dons home and away in the previous two meetings between the two sides.
Following an emphatic 4-0 win over Dundee at Easter Road on Gameweek 33 in the William Hill Premiership, Gray made three changes to his side a fortnight later in the North East.
Kieron Bowie earned his first start since early March after his three goal contributions from the bench last time out. He partnered Martin Boyle – again in the captain’s armband for Hibs – in attack.
Warren O’Hora came into the back three, slotting into the right centre-half position for Lewis Miller who missed out with a knock.
Finally, Josh Campbell completed a midfield trident alongside Nectar Triantis and Dylan Levitt.
Meanwhile, there was a spot among the substitutes for 17 year-old Hibs Academy graduate Rory Whittaker, who had previously made 14 appearances for the First Team in 2023/24.
The away side began the game positively, going close twice inside the opening quarter of an hour.
Boyle seized on some loose possession in the Dons’ third and fizzed a shot just wide before Obita’s whipped free-kick met Campbell in the area, his header crashed off the upright.
Despite the fast start from Hibs, Rocky Bushiri was called into action at the other end on 18 minutes – first denying a Pape Habib Guèye shot from point blank range with a brilliant block before reacting quickly to prevent Topi Keskinen with an incredible sliding challenge.
Rocky vs Guèye was proving a good battle as Aberdeen began to control possession more as they grew into the game.
The Hibees looked to break quickly through Campbell, Boyle and Bowie – making for an end-to-end opening 45 minutes.
Hibs did have the ball in the back of the Aberdeen net just before the break, but it wouldn’t count. Another dangerous Obita delivery from a corner caused confusion in the six-yard box, with the ball crossing the goalline as the Dons struggled to clear it, but Rocky had impeded Dimitar Mitov as the cross came in.
The Hibees again started brightly after the restart, and went close through Campbell early in the second half. Chris Cadden’s inviting cross met the midfielder diving goalwards, but he couldn’t get his header on target.
Future Hibee Jamie McGrath came on at the hour mark for Aberdeen as Jimmy Thelin made changes for the home side, while Dwight Gayle was introduced by Gray.
Hibs remained a threat from crosses. Firstly, Boyle’s free-kick from wide had to be clawed away by Mitov. From the resulting corner, Rocky couldn’t keep his header down from Obita’s delivery.
On 69 minutes, Aberdeen thought they had an opener when Nisbet fired in from Keskinen’s pass, but the Finnish winger was offside as he was played in behind.
Nicky Cadden was then introduced for Dylan Levitt as the Hibees looked to switch things up in midfield.
Proceedings started to become scrappy as Aberdeen pushed for a goal, while the Hibees remained happy to sit in and counter.
The Dons’ pressure told in spectacular fashion when a clearance dropped to Nisbet on the edge of the box with ten minutes left on the clock. The former Hibee took it down on his chest and fired a left-footed volley into the top corner. 1-0 Aberdeen.
Two big saves from Jordan Smith in added time denied Aberdeen a second, getting down low to turn Oday Dabbagh’s shot around the post before stopping Dante Polvara’s close range effort.