Aberdeen moved above Kilmarnock into third place in the Scottish Premiership after coming from behind to beat managerless Hibernian.
Hibs, who parted with head coach Neil Lennon this week, went ahead through Oli Shaw’s low strike.
Andy Considine headed the visitors level and Gary Mackay-Steven fired them in front before half-time.
The visitors lost goalkeeper Joe Lewis to injury and Mackay-Steven missed a penalty but they did enough to win.
Derek McInnes’s side took advantage of Kilmarnock’s defeat by Hearts and stay two points off Rangers, while Hibernian – who were again led by Eddie May and Grant Murray – remain seventh.
Shaw took advantage as the Aberdeen defence backed off, firing home from 25 yards with Lewis scampering across his line.
Aberdeen’s response was swift. After a good old fashioned stramash in the penalty box during which Sam Cosgrove and Tommie Hoban had efforts blocked, Considine eventually managed to get his header on target and beyond the despairing Hibs defence.
Cosgrove was proving to be a real handful for the Hibernian back three but was forced off after suffering a hamstring injury, James Wilson making an appearance from the bench.
The Dons moved ahead when Marciano could not hold Greg Stewart’s shot from 20 yards or Stevie May’s follow-up and Mackay-Steven knocked home from the angle of the six-yard box.
Hibs almost levelled through Stevie Mallan’s free-kick that bounced just inches wide as Lewis clattered into the post, the keeper soon replaced by debutant Tomas Cerny after sustaining a head gash.
Mackay-Steven passed up a golden chance to double the Dons’ advantage after Lewis Ferguson had been felled by Darren McGregor – Marciano diving low to his left to keep the home fans’ hopes alive.
May introduced new signings Gael Bigirimana and Marc McNulty and both Paul Hanlon and Florian Kamberi threatened but there was to be no equaliser, with Wilson close to a third Aberdeen goal late on.
Dons show composure despite injuries – analysis
There is little doubt that Hibernian are lacking in confidence and the sooner a new head coach is appointed the better for the club. That is no slight at all on May, who had his team well organised, but it’s evident that the strikers and in particular Kamberi require a boost.
The addition of McNulty may well help and when the on-loan Reading player gets up to full match fitness he may be able to inspire the Easter Road fans once again.
The injuries to both striker Cosgrove and Lewis could easily have knocked the Dons off their game but nothing could be further from the truth.
They looked composed throughout and even when losing an early goal there was no sign of panic with the belief the players have evident throughout.
Ferguson seems to be improving with every game and being able to hold on to Mackay-Steven in the recent transfer window with serious interest from New York City to cope with may well be Aberdeen’s shrewdest piece of business in January.
Content provided by the BBC. Original piece can be found here https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47011429
