Preview: Aberdeen vs. Hibernian - prediction, team news, lineups

Aberdeen will be hoping to secure a victory that moves them level on points with third-place Hibernian when they lock horns in the Scottish Premiership at Pittodrie on Wednesday night.

Meanwhile, the visitors are looking to win back-to-back league meetings with the Dons for the first time since December 2009.

Match preview

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Hibernian secured their place in the Scottish Cup final for the first time in five years with a comfortable 2-0 victory against Dundee United at Hampden Park last weekend.

Kevin Nisbet's brilliant strike from outside the penalty area broke the deadlock just before the half-hour mark, before Christian Doidge added a second midway through the second half to book his side's place in the final against St Johnstone later this month.

Hibs had lost the delayed 2019-20 Scottish Cup semi-final to Edinburgh rivals Hearts last October and were also beaten in the Scottish League Cup semi-final to St Johnstone in January this year, but Jack Ross – who is yet to lift silverware as a manager – hailed his side's "strength in character" in progressing to the final.

Ross's men will now turn their attention back to the Scottish Premiership as they look to claim their highest top-flight finish since the 2004-05 campaign.

Hibs are currently in third spot, just three points clear of Wednesday's opponents Aberdeen, who they have failed to beat at Pittodrie in each of their last nine visits.

Securing all three points for the Edinburgh outfit on Wednesday would seal a third-place finish in this season's top flight as well as European qualification.

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Aberdeen bounced back from their Scottish Cup quarter-final heartache with a 2-1 victory away at Livingston just over a week ago.

Second-half strikes from Callum Hendry and Ryan Hedges gave the Dons a two-goal cushion before Jay Emmanuel-Thomas pulled one back for the hosts 10 minutes from time. Despite a nervy finish to the match, Stephen Glass's men were able to hold on for the three points and their sixth away win of the season.

That result saw Aberdeen claim back-to-back top-flight victories on the road for the first time since September and moved them to within three points of Hibs in third.

The Dons have now also won two of their three league matches under Glass, as many as their previous 14 games before he took charge in April.

Aberdeen, who beat Hibs 2-0 at Pittodrie earlier this season, need to win on Wednesday night if they hope to finish in third place, and then they would also have to better Hibernian's result on the final day, when they face Celtic and the Dons take on champions Rangers.

Team News

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Aberdeen will still be without Ross McCrorie (ankle), Ash Taylor (knock), Greg Leigh (hamstring) and Michael Devlin (ankle) due to injury.

Goalkeeper Joe Lewis is back in training but has still been troubled by the rib problem he suffered during the Scottish Cup clash with Livingston last month and is unlikely to feature on Wednesday.

The Dons were handed a boost for their last match when Hedges returned to the side after three months out with a chest injury. The 25-year-old midfielder will be assessed before kickoff to see whether he is fit enough to start at Pittodrie.

As for Hibernian, goalkeeper Ofir Marciano is expected to be recalled to the starting lineup at the expense of Matt Macey.

Midfielder Alex Gogic, who was suspended for last weekend's Scottish Cup semi-final, is available for Wednesday's game and could start ahead of Melker Hallberg.

Winger Jamie Murphy, who came off the bench to make his first appearance since early March in the win against Dundee United, could be in contention to start which may see Jackson Irvine drop out of the first XI.

Aberdeen possible starting lineup:
Woods; McLennan, Hoban, Considine, McKenzie; Hedges, McGeouch, Campbell, Hayes; Ferguson; Hendry

Hibernian possible starting lineup:
Macey; McGinn, Porteous, Hanlon, Doig; Boyle, Gogic, Newell, Murphy; Nisbet, Doidge

We say: Aberdeen 1-1 Hibernian

Hibernian have struggled to claim points at Pittodrie in recent years but, after a successful weekend, spirits are high with Jack Ross's men and they will be looking to consolidate third spot with a win on Wednesday.

However, Aberdeen have improved since the arrival of manager Glass and, with little to separate the two sides, a score draw could be on the cards.