Aberdeen 2-1 Hibernian

Aberdeen recovered from being a goal behind to take three points at home.

Dean Shiels pounced on 54 minutes to lash the ball beyond Jamie Langfield, before Darren Mackie levelled from close range after going on as a sub.

The Dons took the lead through a Lee Miller penalty. Thierry Gathuessi gave away the spot kick for the second week in a row, with a foul on Miller.

Hibernian were reduced to nine men when Gathuessi and Colin Nish were sent off for complaining about their bookings.

In the fourth minute, Chris Maguire missed an empty net from six yards. Miller played it across from the left and with the goal gaping, Maguire put his shot wide.

Three minutes later Hibs striker Abdessalam Benjelloun fired a left-foot shot from a tight angle that Jamie Langfield struggled to contain.

Soon, though, Aberdeen exerted pressure on Andy McNeil's goal. Lee Miller twice went close with headers, the latter effort being cleared off the line after the Dons striker had connected with Alan Maybury's fine cross.

Aberdeen were seeking a victory following the dramatic defeat by Queen of the South in the Scottish Cup semi-final and the 1-0 league loss to Celtic. Chris Maguire replaced Jeffrey de Visscher from the starting eleven at Celtic Park.

With Dundee United and Motherwell drawing 2-2 earlier in the day, Hibernian knew victory would see them move up to third place in the league and improve their chance of competing in the Uefa Cup next season.

The visitors had captain Rob Jones back in the team after suspension, but hesitancy and nervousness haunted the Hibs central defence throughout the match.

Abdessalam Benjelloun and Felipe Morais made their way into the starting line-up at the expense of Abderraouf Zarabi and Colin Nish.

But the absence of Merouane Zemmama, out with a broken bone in his foot, was keenly felt by Mixu Paatelainen's men.

The Moroccan has offered pace and trickery to Hibs in recent weeks and without him the visitors lacked the skill to retain possession and attack meaningfully.

Seconds before half-time Jamie Langfield denied Hibs an ill-deserved lead when he pushed a powerful left-footed Benjelloun shot round the post.

The second half was a far more exciting affair.

Shiels' tenth goal of the season had the travelling fans dreaming of Uefa Cup football next season, but Mackie equalised within seconds of coming on as a substitute for Chris Maguire with over an hour on the clock.

Having conceded a penalty against Dundee United last week, Gathuessi did likewise at Pittodrie.

Stuart Dougal judged that he had fouled Lee Miller and the striker slotted the penalty home to put the Dons 2-1 ahead.