[DavidMc]

Hibs 3 - 3 Aberdeen

Craig Brewster handed Aberdeen a leaving gift of two goals but the Dons failed to claim their first win.
Merouane Zemmama clipped the home side into an early lead but Brewster took advantage of some shoddy defending to strike twice before the interval.

Goalkeeper Ma-Kalambay looked suspect at both goals and made a terrible error to allow Jamie Smith to head home.

Steven Fletcher smashed in a wonderful volley and Dean Shiels drew the sides level with a cool finish late on.


The 40-year-old Brewster, who will return to manage Inverness next week, was the best player on view.

But he was given a big helping hand by a generous home defence and the calamitous Ma-Kalambay.

Hibernian had the ball in the net in the fourth minute after a sweeping move but David Murphy was ruled offside.

However, the home fans only had to wait another 60 seconds to take the lead thanks to some shaky defending from the visitors.

A flowing attack appeared to have broken down when Andrew Considine intercepted a pass towards Steven Fletcher, but the Dons defender lost possession and the striker slipped the ball forward for Zemmama to dink home from close range.

Murphy's superb penalty-box challenge on Brewster prevented an equaliser before Hibs countered quickly and Brian Kerr shot just over from 25 yards.

Brewster levelled in the 18th minute courtesy of some more sloppy defending.

The veteran slipped away from Hogg and was afforded all the time and space he needed to volley Michael Hart's deep cross inside Ma-Kalambay's near-post from a tight angle.

Aberdeen were enjoying a lot more of the ball and the Hibs defence were being pulled all over the place by the bustling Brewster.

And his old team gifted him another goal when the hapless Hogg headed a Jackie McNamara delivery high in the air and the hesitant Ma-Kalambay failed to gather it, allowing Brewster to tap into an empty net from six yards.

Both sides had chances before the interval but Ma-Kalambay saved comfortably from the unmarked Diamond's header and Hibs captain Rob Jones headed wide from a Zemmama corner.

Hibs threw on Abdessalam Benjelloun after the break and the Moroccan striker's curling shot from 22 yards was saved by Derek Soutar.


Zemmama was on target for Hibernian

The home side were increasing the pressure on the Dons when another shocking mistake from Ma-Kalambay handed the visitors another goal.

Barry Nicholson flighted in a harmless looking cross and the towering Belgian again missed the ball completely, with Smith the beneficiary this time.

Fletcher flashed a shot wide and the buzzing Zemmama infuriated the home fans after a 40 yard run into the penalty area resulted in him laying off a pass when a shot looked the best option.

Ma-Kalambay nervously tipped a Brewster strike away before more flapping from the keeper saw the veteran forward hit the crossbar with a header.

The game was raging from end to end at a rapid rate of knots and, with 20 minutes remaining, Fletcher narrowed the deficit with a wonderful scissor-kick volley, following good work from Shiels.

Kerr shot wide after a frantic scramble in the Aberdeen penalty area but Hibs were not to be denied.

With Aberdeen backing off, Shiels was slipped in on goal by Fletcher and did well to round Soutar and level the game.

Hibs were screaming for a penalty in the final minute when Lee Miller looked guilty of pulling the jersey of Jones in a congested goalmouth.



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Hibernian: Kalambay, McCann, Hogg, Jones, Murphy (Gathuessi 18), O'Brien (Shiels 61), Kerr, Beuzelin, Stevenson (Benjelloun 47), Zemmama, Fletcher. Subs Not Used: McNeil, Donaldson, Joneleit, Morais.

Goals: Zemmama 5, Fletcher 70, Shiels 84.

Aberdeen: Soutar, Hart, Diamond (Foster 49), Considine, McNamara, Nicholson, Clark, Severin (Young 79), Jamie Smith, Mackie, Brewster (Miller 72). Subs Not Used: Langfield, Lovell, Maguire, McVine.

Booked: Young.

Goals: Brewster 18, 37, Jamie Smith 57.

Att: 15,280

Ref: B Winter