Barry Robson admitted Aberdeen weren’t at their best but showed a spirit and put on a defensive display that the Gothenburg Greats would have been proud of.
The Dons greatest ever team were in town as they continued to mark the 40th anniversary of their famous European Cup Winners Cup win. They were guests of honour at Pittodrie and they watched the class of 2023 pick up a point which they hope will take Aberdeen another step closer to sealing third and a European return. Euro-chasing Hibs were the better team but failed to take their chances, with Kelle Roos saving a penalty from Kevin Nisbet, and that could well see them too far behind in the race for third.
Robson’s Aberdeen team might not have Willie Miller, Alex McLeish and Jim Leighton but they do have the likes of Roos, Angus MacDonald, Mattie Pollock and Liam Scales who provide the basis for this clean sheet. Hearts also dropped points against St Mirren so no ground was lost and Aberdeen remain five points in front, going into next weekend’s clash at Tynecastle.
Robson said: “It is pride when you have the Gothenburg Greats there. You feel them breathing on top of you. They were a terrific team and the one thing they will see was real guts and determination to keep a clean sheet when we weren’t performing at our best.
“Roos was terrific and you need that. I’m disappointed we drew the game but I’m also proud of the players and what they’ve given us over the past three months. They’ve been outstanding. I think it was a big, emotional game. They’ve kept another clean sheet and, in football, you don’t always play well.
"The most pleasing factor for me is that when you don’t play well – and that’s right across the board – they dig, they fight and they come out with a point. That’s what I want to see.”
The Gothenburg Greats had been granted the freedom of Aberdeen on this very pitch 24 hours earlier. A plaque of their achievement and their European Cup Winners Cup win before the game was unveiled outside the Pittodrie.
The team, minus manager Sir Alex Ferguson and the late Neale Cooper, were introduced to the sold-out home Pittodrie crowd before kick-off. There were then impressive tribute displays behind both goals before all eyes turned to the current Aberdeen team.
Before centre stage turned to the here and now. A lot had changed since the last time these teams met at Easter Road back in January. Hibs came out convincing 6-0 winners in what, no doubt, was Aberdeen hitting rock-bottom. It saw Jim Goodwin fired at the final whistle and sparked a bright new Don under Robson.
The caretaker is now very much the main man after leading Aberdeen out of the doldrums. Yet it was Hibs, in this game, like their kit, who had looked in mint condition. They were also the better team and Lee Johnston had claimed after it that his side had created so many chances that if this had been a boxing match it would have been a points victory.
It started early. Chris Cadden’s cross found Nisbet but his stabbed shot was saved by Roos. Cadden was a threat crossing from the right and he set up Joe Newell, who headed wide. Jonny Hayes’ slip allowed Hibs to counter with pace, as Nisbet fed Elie Youan but Roos got down to block.
Hibs went even closer through the Frenchman. His shot took a deflection off Mattie Pollock before it hit the top of the bar. Aberdeen offered very little, apart from a Leighton Clarkson solo run that was blocked by a diving Will Fish challenge.
Aberdeen did take more of a foothold in the closing minutes. The impressive Ryan Duncan laid it back to Hayden Coulson and he fired a shot that flew just over. Aberdeen looked more threatening after the interval.
Duncan’s effort deflected wide for a corner and then David Marshall had to punch Clarkson’s in-swing corner off his line. Youan and Nisbet’s pace was a constant threat. Youan went close again when he cut in from the left and curled in a shot that came back off Roos’s near post. There was a nasty collision between Josh Campbell and Liam Scales. There was a VAR check for a possible red card but referee Nick Walsh decided a yellow was enough for the Hibs midfielder.
The visitors continued to look threatening. A great run and pull back from Cadden should have resulted in a goal for Josh Campbell, but he dragged his effort wide and then Newell shot across the face. There was more concern for battle-scarred Aberdeen as Duk stopped and held the back of his hamstring before he was replaced by Shayden Morris.
Youan forced Roos into another stop before Angus MacDonald hacked clear. Hibs did everything but net. Newell curled in a corner and Youan’s header came off the bar and sub Harry McKirdy volleyed it off the back post. It went to VAR. Walsh was sent to the monitor and agreed McKirdy’s shot had hit the arm of Hayden Coulson. Kevin Nisbet eventually took the kick but his effort was poor and too central and Roos was able to save with his legs.
Ramadani’s shot was deflected and saved by Marshall but in all fairness it ended a better point for Aberdeen than Hibs.
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