Kevin Nisbet double earns Aberdeen valuable victory over 10-man Hibernian

Kevin Nisbet’s brace earned Aberdeen a much-needed William Hill Premiership victory over 10-mam Hibernian to give Stephen Robinson his first win as head coach.

Nisbet’s first came from the penalty spot after Grant Hanley was shown a red card for hauling down Toyosi Olusanya and the striker fizzed in a second with 15 minutes remaining to wrap up a 2-0 success.

The Dons had gone into the game with just one win in their last 16 matches, a run which has seen them drawn into the battle to avoid the relegation play-off spot, with last week’s lacklustre defeat to St Mirren bringing the Paisley side level on points with Robinson’s men.

Hibs were unbeaten in their last five matches, with David Gray’s side still having designs on catching Motherwell for fourth place.

After a slow start, the game burst into life just before the quarter-hour mark.

Olusanya raced on to a ball over the top from Emmanuel Gyamfi and, having got the better of Hanley, the Scotland defender seemed to haul the striker back.

Referee David Dickinson initially failed to award anything, but after a VAR check the penalty was given and Hanley sent off.

Former Hibs man Nisbet stepped up and coolly slotted into the bottom-left corner as Raphael Sallinger dived the other way.

Hibs brought on Rocky Bushiri for Jack Iredale in switching to a back four and Aberdeen went on to show their man advantage.

Stuart Armstrong curled narrowly over from 20 yards and, although Hibs worked to keep the Dons at bay, it was the home side who continued to carve out the better chances.

Gyamfi came close with a cross that almost sneaked under the crossbar, curling away at the last minute, and just seconds later Olusanya had the ball in the net, touching in a wayward Lyall Cameron shot, but the striker was clearly offside.

Nisbet saw Sallinger hold a weak header from an Alexander Jensen cross after 44 minutes and the same player mis-controlled when in the area a minute later.

But the impressive Jensen should have doubled the lead in added time at the end of the first half when he somehow blasted over the bar from close range after a Gyamfi cross.

German full-back Gyamfi found himself on the end of a VAR review for a possible violent conduct offence before the half-time whistle, ultimately receiving a yellow card for his clash with Dane Scarlett.

The Dons came out brightly for the second half and just a minute after the restart Olusanya flashed a shot across the face of goal before a seeing an attempted bicycle kick fly wide another minute later.

Hibs had been kept at arm’s length for much of the proceedings and, even when Owen Elding broke through and was denied by Dimitar Mitov, the offside flag rendered it moot.

Aberdeen continued to threaten and Gyamfi saw an effort from the edge of the area fade away from goal at the last moment before five minutes later Afeez Aremu saw an effort curl away to the other side of goal.

The Dons got a deserved second goal after 75 minutes. Nisbet’s powerful drive crashed off the underside of the bar and play initially continued before a VAR check ruled the ball had indeed crossed the line.

Hibs finally applied some sustained pressure as the Dons looked to see the game out, but the home side survived a number of set-pieces to record a morale-boasting clean sheet.