Aberdeen 2-2 Hibs: Draw at Pittodrie leaves Neil Warnock waiting for first cinch Premiership win

Match report as Aberdeen forced to settle with a point at home to Hibernian in the cinch Premiership

Saturday 17 February 2024 22:58, UK

Aberdeen's interim manager Neil Warnock is still seeking a first cinch Premiership win after his side could only draw 2-2 with a resilient Hibernian at Pittodrie.

The visitors led through Martin Boyle, but Nicky Devlin quickly restored parity before the Dons went in front early in the second half thanks to Jamie McGrath.

However, a leveller from substitute Emiliano Marcondes ensured the sides shared the points.

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How the game unfolded at Pittodrie

The evergreen Boyle made an early impact, sliding past Kelle Roos at the near post after good work from Myziane Maolida had created the chance.

The Edinburgh side's lead did not last long, as David Marshall could only parry Bojan Miovski's 10-yard volley and Devlin threw himself at the loose ball to turn home a quickfire leveller.

Aberdeen would be the more threatening side, and Marshall had to look smart to deny Jack MacKenzie midway through the first half, and the former Scotland man then had to palm away a Connor Barron corner from under his own crossbar.

Miovski passed up a gilt-edged chance to put the Dons in front just before the half-hour as he ran onto Duk's through ball, but in electing to lift over Marshall rather than round the veteran keeper, he allowed a save.

The home side survived a penalty scare as VAR official David Dickinson took a look at a potential handball from an Elie Youan cross, but at the other end they were denied a second goal by the woodwork, as Leighton Clarkson slid in to meet Miovski's cut-back, the ball coming back off the crossbar.

They would get their noses in front after 51 minutes, as Duk left Lewis Miller for dead, and put a ball into the box, where Clarkson found McGrath, and the Irishman passed into the net after getting the ball out from between his feet.

It looked like they might extend their lead when Miovski ran onto a ball over the top three minutes later, but Marshall was off his line quickly to avert the danger.

A flying save from Marshall denied Duk, and the keeper held a Graeme Shinnie volley before Hibs drew level in controversial circumstances.

Play went on after what seemed an offside on the left, only for assistant referee David Roome to raise his flag after substitute Marcondes turned home Joe Newell's cut-back. A lengthy VAR review followed, before eventually the goal was given.

Aberdeen threw on new signing Junior Hoilett for the last 10 minutes, and his first involvement set up an opportunity for Miovski, only for Marshall to deny the Dons top scorer. That would be the keeper's last involvement as he picked up an injury that saw him replaced by Jojo Wollacott.

Despite 10 minutes of injury-time, neither side could find a winner, though Miovski should have done better when the ball fell to him at the back post deep in stoppage time.

What the managers said...

Aberdeen manager Neil Warnock said: "It's frustrating. We've had 26 attempts on goal but given two goals away like Sunday league.

"I think that's the best we've played since I've come here, and we just missed a little bit of the rub of the green.

"We played some good stuff at times, but we needed a clean sheet to win the game. I bet Hibs can't believe the goals we've given them - it's elementary defending, and it's disappointing after the effort we put into the game."

Hibs boss Nick Montgomery said: "I think we came here with a game plan, and we scored early but we're disappointed with the goals we lost. It was a competitive game on a difficult pitch.

"I thought we probably should have had a penalty for handball in the first half, and in the second we conceded another poor goal.

"I thought we showed great character to level, and [Emiliano] Marcondes is a top quality player, and I thought his finish was quality.

"We had chances to win the game, as did Aberdeen. We could have taken three points but it wasn't to be so we'll take a point at a difficult place to come."