Aberdeen v Hibs: Three things to ponder following the match between Aberdeen and Hibs at Pittodrie

Hibs striker Christian Doidge turns to celebrate opening the scoring against Aberdeen at Pittodrie Pic: SNS

1 Christian Doidge must have thought he was in for another goal-less afternoon at Pittodrie when he met Paul McGinn’s cross only to see Aberdeen goalkeeper Joe Lewis pull off a tremendous save at his right hand post.

The Welshman had been guilty of four bad misses on his last visit to the Granite City - at a time when he was struggling to find the net following his £350,000 summer move from Forest Green Rovers - but he’s become a prolific scorer since.

And he put that early chance out of his mind to pounce on Scott Allan’s slide-rule pass to round Lewis and from an extremely tight angle send a low shot into the net for his 18th goal of the season.

2 Young Jamie Gullan was handed his first Premiership start by Hibs boss Jack Ross after striker Marc McNulty was hit with a two-match ban for his stamp on Sean Clare during the Edinburgh derby.

It was a big day for the 20-year-old at a difficult venue and he quickly learned that his tender years weren’t going to win him any leeway, a smack in the face from Ash Taylor and then being dumped face down by Andy Considine reminding him he’s now playing with the big boys.

Unfortunately Gullan’s big day was brought to a premature end as Steven Whittaker was sent off having picked up a second booking for another foul on Lewis Ferguson, the striker making way for midfielder Melker Hallberg.

3 Hibs have found clean sheets hard to come by this season, Jack Ross’ side going into this match with just five to their name in the Premiership.

One of those shut-outs had come against Aberdeen at Easter Road as Hibs strolled to a 3-0 win and they might have fancied another after Doidge’s goal with their opponents struggling to create much in the way of clear cut chances.

But Whittaker’s red card proved to be a pivotal moment, Aberdeen scoring twice in two minutes, Adam Jackson turning the ball into his own net and Considine bundling home before Curtis Main wrapped up the Dons win seven minutes from time.