Clydesdale Bank Premier League
, Feb 11, 2012
Ground: Easter Road Stadium
, Kickoff: 15:00 , Att 10,100
Team news
Fenlon keen to continue winning ways Hibernian manager Pat Fenlon hopes the positive atmosphere at Easter Road continues as his side go in search of a crucial home victory in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League against Aberdeen.
Hibs last week beat Kilmarnock 1-0 to advance to the William Hill Scottish Cup quarter-finals, but are above Dunfermline at the foot of the SPL only by virtue of a superior goal difference.
September's defeat of St Johnstone is Hibs' only SPL home win since last February and Fenlon hopes his troops can claim three points against the Dons tomorrow to aid their fight against relegation.
Fenlon told Hibernian TV: "We're in a position where we need to scrap and fight for everything that's going.
"Everybody is upbeat at the moment, but it's important to continue that you have to keep working as hard.
"Last week it was great to get through to the quarter-final of the cup to give everybody a bit of a lift. You're hoping that lift continues.
"It's important we keep making progress and we keep pushing on." Hibs have played 12 home matches this season, losing seven times, and Fenlon is determined the cup success - which included a first clean sheet in 12 matches - is the start of better things at Easter Road.
"The place has been for well over a year or longer, it's been a little bit doom or gloom," he added.
"I think it's important the supporters see the light at the end of the tunnel. They've come back and they've started to enjoy their football.
"They've come to Easter Road thinking something could happen today. We've got a team capable of putting in a performance.
"We want to try to turn it back into the place it was previously, where teams didn't like coming to Easter Road, no matter who they were.
"We want to make it not a nice place to come and play." Honduran midfielder Jorge Claros is in line for his Hibs debut after the paperwork on his loan transfer was completed.
On-loan Stoke midfielder Tom Soares is struggling with a hamstring strain, though.
Striker Leigh Griffiths and defenders Paul Hanlon and James McPake are suspended, winger Danny Galbraith (groin) remains out and Ian Murray is just short of a comeback from a hip problem.
Meanwhile, Jason Brown considered turning his back on football a year ago - but his excitement over the potential of his Aberdeen team has reignited his passion for the game.
The goalkeeper has only lost two of 12 games since claiming the number one spot in early December as Aberdeen recovered from a poor start to the season.
Brown had only played 16 games in five years at Blackburn before joining the Dons in the summer, with only a handful more coming in loan spells at Leeds and Leyton Orient.
But his recent run in the starting line-up, coupled with his confidence in his team-mates, has inspired optimism that the coming years can be much more fruitful.
Aberdeen face Hibernian at Easter Road tomorrow looking to consolidate sixth place in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, with a William Hill Scottish Cup replay against Queen of the South days later.
Brown told Red TV: "I'm loving it here. I fell back in love with football.
"This time last year, if I'm being perfectly honest, I would have walked away from the game.
"I just felt I wasn't getting the rub of the green. You feel the whole world is against you.
"But I love it here and my family love it here.
Hibernian vs Aberdeen
Last modified 17:12 11/02/12
Hibs held by Dons Hibernian moved a point clear of Clydesdale Bank Premier League bottom club Dunfermline with a goalless draw against Aberdeen - but it could have been more for the capital club at Easter Road.
Dons goalkeeper Jason Brown saved well from Isaiah Osbourne after 25 minutes and Hibs had appeals for a penalty turned down midway through the second half after the ball appeared to hit Dons defender Andrew Considine on the arm.
Mitchel Megginson on the left was a useful outlet for Aberdeen and had an effort saved by Hibs goalkeeper Graham Stack, but the Dons were worthy of a point in an entertaining contest.
After seven losses from the previous 12 home league matches this term and one win in the SPL at Easter Road since last February - September's defeat of St Johnstone - Hibs boss Pat Fenlon will have been content with the clean sheet, with on-loan Wolves defender Matt Doherty key in the defensive effort.
The result saw Aberdeen, who play Queen of the South in a cup replay on Tuesday night, slip outside the top six.
Aberdeen's 1-0 win over Hibs at Pittodrie on December 17 was part of a run of four wins and four draws in nine league games prior to Saturday's contest which propelled them away from relegation danger.
It was form Hibs, who began the day level on points with the Pars at the foot of the standings, were looking to replicate after claiming just a second home win in a year in last week's William Hill Scottish Cup defeat of Kilmarnock.
Hibs began promisingly, with debutant Jorge Claros adding bite in midfield.
Sean O'Hanlon headed over from a corner before David Wotherspoon saw his swerving shot saved by Brown.
A Lewis Stevenson cross from the left had Mark Reynolds scrambling to clear before Hibs tested Brown.
Stevenson combined with Wotherspoon, who freed Osbourne in the area, but the Dons goalkeeper was equal to the low effort.
Megginson's pace down the left was proving menacing as the Dons came into the game.
O'Hanlon had to stretch to turn one cross around the post before another went narrowly behind Vernon.
A Fraser Fyvie cross was then met by Rory McArdle at the back post and the ball fell for Megginson, but Stack got down well to save a ball which had come through a forest of bodies.
Josh Magennis headed straight at Stack from a Megginson cross and Considine headed wide either side of the break.
The hosts sought a response, but had Doherty booked for dissent for disputing a foul on Magennis, after it appeared the Hibs defender had clearly won the ball.
Hibs then might have had a penalty.
Eoin Doyle forced a corner and a Kujabi cross created havoc in the area, with Doherty and O'Connor challenging for a ball which appeared to hit Considine on the arm. Referee Crawford Allan waved away appeals.
Hibs striker Doyle made way for Roy O'Donovan and the Dons swapped Magennis for Mohamed Chalali and Megginson for Darren Mackie as each side looked for a goal.
The move almost immediately had an impact for the visitors with Clark Robertson's deep cross headed back across goal by Ryan Jack, but the ball fell for O'Hanlon to clear.
A diving Reynolds header turned an inswinging Kujabi free-kick over and George Francomb's resulting corner was well directed, but no-one could apply the decisive touch.
Chalali headed a Fyvie corner wide before Robertson was forced off with an apparent knee injury, Youl Mawene coming on.
| Player rating out of ten | Player name | Substitution | Did they score? | Player's disciplinary record | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Graham Stack | ||||
| 22 | George Francomb | ||||
| 2 | Matt Doherty |
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| 5 | Sean O'Hanlon | ||||
| 19 | Pa Saikou Kujabi | ||||
| 7 | David Wotherspoon | ||||
| 8 | Jorge Claros | ||||
| 24 | Isaiah Osbourne | ||||
| 16 | Lewis Stevenson | ||||
| 9 | Garry O'Connor | ||||
| 10 | Eoin Doyle(sub 64) |
|
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| Substitutes | |||||
| 31 | Mark Brown | ||||
| 3 | Callum Booth | ||||
| 14 | Martin Scott | ||||
| 17 | Ivan Sproule | ||||
| 18 | Roy O'Donovan(sub 64) |
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| 20 | David Stephens | ||||
| 25 | Richie Towell | ||||
| Player rating out of ten | Player name | Did they score? | Player's disciplinary record | Substitution | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | Jason Brown | ||||
| 2 | Rory McArdle | ||||
| 3 | Mark Reynolds | ||||
| 6 | Andrew Considine | ||||
| 13 | Clark Robertson(sub 85) |
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| 22 | Ryan Jack | ||||
| 23 | Mitchel Megginson(sub 75) |
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| 20 | Stephen Hughes | ||||
| 17 | Fraser Fyvie | ||||
| 9 | Scott Vernon | ||||
| 21 | Josh Magennis(sub 65) |
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| Substitutes | |||||
| 1 | Jamie Langfield | ||||
| 5 | Youl Mawene(sub 85) |
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| 10 | Darren Mackie(sub 75) |
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| 14 | Rory Fallon | ||||
| 30 | Ryan Fraser | ||||
| 33 | Jamie Masson | ||||
| 18 | Mohamed Chalali(sub 65) |
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| Team | Hibernian | Aberdeen |
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