Hibs 2 - 1 Aberdeen: Derek Riordan double sinks Dons

Neil Wilson, Prestonfield: "Just a small comment about the guy complaining about admission prices. I think he has a valid point about most of Scottish football but I think in general Hibs have been pretty good value for money over the last few years, playing probably the most attractive football in Scotland. A season ticket reduces the gate money to about £16 a game."

Two goals from Derek Riordan, his second from the penalty spot earned Hibs a hard-fought victory at Pittodrie this afternoon, his double consigning the Dons to a fifth consecutive match at home without a win.

Riordan struck after 33 minutes only for Lee Miller to equalise from the spot as Sol Bamba was adjudged to have impeded the former Hearts striker. But Riordan himself netted the winner from the spot 12 minutes from time after Charlie Mulgrew, who was sent off, handled the ball on his own goal-line.

Hibs boss Mixu Paatelainen couldn't resist the temptation of fielding Riordan, Steven Fletcher and Colin Nish together, putting out a bold 4-3-3 formation but it was under-fire Aberdeen, desperate for a first win of the season at Pittodrie who made all the early running.

Even so, the Dons were unable to pose the Edinburgh side too many problems and it was as sloppy pass back from Zander Diamond which caused Jamie Langfield his first awkward moment, the Aberdeen goalkeeper scrambling back to smother the ball which looked like creeping inside his left-hand post.

Richie Foster should have put the Dons ahead in the 15th minute when Mark Kerr's astute pass left him with only Yves Ma-Kalambay to beat but the big Belgian goalkeeper rose superbly to his left to push his shot aside.

A clever pass from Fletcher gave Nish a rare sight of Langfield's goal but his powerfully struck shot whistled wide without troubling Langfield as did an effort from Riordan following a cut-back from Lewis Stevenson.

However, it was Aberdeen who again came closest to opening the scoring in the 25th minute, Ma-Kalambay throwing himself full-length to push away a netbound effort from former Hearts striker Miller.

But Hibs stunned Pittodrie into silence – apart from the healthy band of Hibs fans opposite the main stand – by taking the lead in the 33rd minute, Fletcher dispossessing Lee Mair and leaving the ball for Riordan who coolly rounded Lanfield before rolling his shot into the empty net from a tight angle.

Aberdeen attempted to hit back right away and Scott Severin found himself in a good position but Ma-Kalambay again was well placed to beat his shot to safety.

Fletcher should have added to Hibs' lead six minutes later when he was set free by a glorious pass from John Rankin but the striker blasted wide with only Langfield to beat.

And Hibs were made to pay for that miss when Aberdeen equalised in the 41st minute, Kerr slipping in Miller who went down under the challenge of Bamba, the big defender holding his head in disbelief as referee Mike McCurry pointed to the spot. It looked a soft award but Miller made no mistake, leaving Ma-Kalambay with no chance of saving his spot-kick.

Aberdeen began the second half in the ascendancy, Charlie Mulgrew driving an angled shot over but despite enjoying the bulk of possession with Hibs a man short in midfield, Jimmy Calderwood's side were unable to make it count although Ma-Kalambay had to look sharp to go down at the feet of the Dons star as he burst into the visitors' penalty area.

Hibs were increasingly finding themselves pinned down in their own half, unable to bring their front three into action as both sides realised that in such a tight match the next goal was highly likely to prove to be the winner.

And it almost came in the 66th minute as Nish rose at the far post to get his head to Rankin's deep cross, the ball dropping wide of Langfield but also the target.

But Hibs did get that second goal in the 78th minute, Langfield saving Nish's shot only for Riordan to follow up with an effort which Fletcher flicked a boot at, the ball coming onto the arm of Mulgrew, leaving McCurry with no option but to point to the penalty spot for the second time in the game and to produce the red card for the Dons' star.

Amid the mayhem Riordan stepped up to coolly send Langfield the wrong way to claim his second goal of the game.

Aberdeen: Langfield, Mulgrew, Foster, Diamond, Severin, Kerr, Miller, Mackie (Maguire 66), Hodgkiss (Young 77), Mair, Aluko. Subs not used: Bossu, McDonald, Wright, Duff, Considine.

Hibs: Ma-Kalambay, Van Zanten, Bamba, Jones, Stevenson, Thicot (Shiels 74), Rankin, Murray, Riordan, Fletcher, Nish. Subs not used: McNeil, Yantorno, Keenan, Hanlon, Chisholm, Pinau.

Referee: Mike McCurry.