A superb fluid performance saw Hibernian run out worthy 2-0 winners against Aberdeen at Easter Road.
Second-half goals from Martin Boyle and Florian Kamberi gave the home side the three points they deserved, as Aberdeen struggled to establish themselves as a goal threat.
The defeat means the Dons will drop down to third if Rangers win at Hamilton tomorrow.
Chidi Nwakali was handed his first start in a Dons shirt in their only change, replacing the suspended Graeme Shinnie. Hibernian dropped Marvin Bartley, Ryan Porteous and Brandon Barker from the 2-1 win over Rangers, with Paul Hanlon, Darren McGregor and Jamie MacLaren starting.
Played in a pulsating atmosphere at Easter Road, which followed a poignant minute’s applause for the recent passing of Liam Miller, both teams showed no shyness in getting forward.
Ryan Christie clipped an effort over Ofir Marciano’s crossbar before John McGinn gave Freddie Woodman a scare with a long-distance strike that bounced just in front of him.
Sloppiness from Dons defender Scott McKenna could have cost the visitors if Kamberi, who dispossessed him, released MacLaren earlier. However he delayed the pass and forced MacLaren wide, allowing Andrew Considine to come across and block.
Having shown great understanding in recent matches, Christie and Kenny McLean continued to flourish with the on-loan Celtic midfielder teeing up the latter for a 25-yard strike, which Marciano acrobatically punched clear on 20 minutes.
But they struggled to forge any opportunities of note after that, with the home side dominating possession and looking favourites to score. Skipper Paul Hanlon tried to divert Darren McGregor’s flick on over Woodman eight minutes before the break but looped it over the bar.
McInnes replaced Adam Rooney with Stevie May at half-time but it was the hosts who made the first impact of the second half, taking the lead through Boyle who headed in after Woodman had twice denied MacLaren.
The persistence of the hosts was rewarded further on the hour when Hanlon’s deflected shot reached Kamberi 12 yards from goal and he finished on the turn.
It took until the 70th minute for Aberdeen to have their next shot on target, an effort from 25 yards from McLean, but Woodman was to be called into action again at the other end to thwart Kamberi.
But Aberdeen’s failure to test Marciano often enough and their inability to cope with Hibernian’s front three ultimately proved their undoing.
