Friday 9th November 1945hrs Aberdeen v Hibernian Football – Scotland – SPFL Premiership It’s a rare top-flight Friday evening fixture to get the weekend started in Scotland and clashes between these two are usually very hard fought with plenty of incident. The two clubs met as recently as September when facing each other in the quarter final of the League Cup, with Aberdeen eventually prevailing after a penalty shoot-out. There will be no such outcome this time but it’s likely to be just as close. Continue reading below for a match preview of Aberdeen versus Hibs with a best bet selected.
Aberdeen started this season very slowly and it was a slow start emphasised by how well both Edinburgh clubs were doing, two teams who Aberdeen would have seen as challengers in the race for spots in the European places before the campaign started. The Dons have finished second in the previous four seasons and it has raised expectations amongst the support – an expectation that is harder and harder to meet as Rangers start to get stronger year on year and Hearts and Hibs improve as well. Derek McInnes had come in for a lot of criticism and there were even calls for a change of manager – that was before McInnes plotted a semi-final win over Rangers that takes them back to their second League Cup final in three seasons. That will be against Celtic at the beginning of December but it’s all about the league before then and the win over Rangers has given Aberdeen renewed confidence. Sunday’s come-from-behind win away to Kilmarnock was dogged but it was also their second consecutive win in the league – the first time they have been able to do that all season. It has taken them level on points with their next opponents and a win on Friday would see Aberdeen move into the top six, which would be another step forward in their season.
All the headlines involving Hibs in the past week have been for the wrong reasons as Neil Lennon was struck by a coin from Hearts supporters towards the end of the Edinburgh derby. His own fans were involved in unsavoury scenes of their own and it has all sparked a lot of discussion since. Lennon’s mood would not have been helped any when his team lost at home to St Johnstone the following Saturday in what his assistant described as their worst performance of the season. It’s now no wins in their last three league games and Hibs have dropped to sixth in the table making Friday’s game on they have get something from otherwise they will fall further behind the top clubs and with an eight point margin between themselves and Hearts already, it would completely stifle what had been a really positive first part of the season for the Easter Road club. Lennon’s team will at least be buoyed by the return of Florian Kamberi who has been so influential in his leading of the line. He was sent off in the derby last week and his presence was missed against St Johnstone.
Aberdeen v Hibernian Betting Tip
The two meetings between Aberdeen and Hibs so far this season have ended 1-1 and 0-0 after 90 minutes, both matches played at Easter Road. It’s an indication of how closely matched these clubs are but Hibs will feel that they should have won on both occasions. Heading towards their next meeting on Friday and the momentum is now with Aberdeen on the back of them reaching the League Cup final and two impressive wins in the league on the back of that. Combine their good recent form with a downturn in performances and results for the visitors then the signs all point to an Aberdeen victory on Friday. Pittodrie is also not a happy hunting ground for Hibs who have not won there since 2012 and were humbled 4-1 last December.
These two are separated only by goal difference in the league and you sense that there won’t be much between them come the end of the season. Aberdeen are showing much more resilience of late whilst Hibs are not at their best level of performance at the moment and have lost some of their punch in attack. I was considering siding with the home team to get a valuable win but I think we’ll see this match follow suit with the previous couple and be a low-scoring affair. Taking Under 2.6 goals at Pittodrie.
Selection: Under 2.5 goals 71/100 @ Marathon Bet
