How Hibs made history with 4-0 Pittodrie win over Aberdeen

That changed on Saturday as Marink Reedijk’s side followed their Premier Sports Cup semi-final victory over Hearts with a 4-0 defeat of Aberdeen, moving off the bottom of the Premiership in the process.

It was Hibs’ first league win since August and their biggest victory at Pittodrie for almost 60 years.

The previous occasion came on December 7, 1968, when Bob Shankly’s side won 6-2 in the old First Division in front of at least 11,000 fans.

Peter Cormack was the central figure that afternoon, scoring a hat-trick before half-time.

Joe Davis converted a penalty, and Alex Scott also found the net as Hibs established a remarkable 5-1 interval lead. Joe McBride added the sixth late in the game.

Martin Buchan and Jim Forrest scored for Aberdeen, but the home side had been taken apart long before McBride completed the rout.

The Hibs team that day comprised Thomson Allan in goals, Chris Shevlane and Joe Davis as full-backs, a midfield of Alan Cousin, John Madsen, and Pat Stanton, and a forward line of Alex Scott, Pat Quinn, Joe McBride, Peter Cormack, and Eric Stevenson.

There was little resemblance between the pattern of that game and Saturday’s victory.

The class of 1968 had the contest won by half-time. Reedijk’s side were made to wait and had some defending to do before taking control in the second period.

Aberdeen struck the crossbar through Jack Milne during the opening half, while Marko Ivezic and Raphael Sallinger were required to help Hibs negotiate periods of home pressure.

The breakthrough arrived in the 57th minute through Jamie McGrath. The former Aberdeen midfielder was allowed space around 25 yards from goal and punished his old side with a superb left-footed strike beyond Marius Müller.

That remained the difference until the closing stages, when Hibs turned a hard-earned lead into a heavy defeat for Aberdeen.

Callum Wright came off the bench to score the second after Müller had denied Thibault Klidje. Nicky Cadden then drove in the third before Klidje converted Wright’s cross in stoppage time.

Three substitutes had scored, with Wright also supplying an assist. After nearly an hour of competitive football, Hibs attacked an increasingly exposed Aberdeen defence almost at will.

The comparison with 1968 is more statistical than stylistic. Shankly’s side overwhelmed Aberdeen – managed by future Easter Road boss Eddie Turnbull – from the outset.

Reedijk’s team stayed in the game during a difficult first half, found their breakthrough and then took full advantage when the hosts began to unravel.

For the Hibs support, the number of years separating the two results adds another layer to an already satisfying evening.

The more immediate significance lies in what the victory might do for Reedijk’s team. Six days after beating Hearts at Hampden, they produced a very different performance and secured an equally convincing outcome.

Whether those results prove to be a turning point will become clear soon enough. For now, Hibs can reflect on a victory at Pittodrie, which carried them up the table and into the record books.