Aberdeen fans who have been clamouring for a switch to a three-man defence were granted their wish on Saturday but it was by accident rather than design.
The Dons were forced into one defensive reshuffle after another in the most challenging of circumstances as they lost one defender before the game and two more in the first half.
As his options at the back decreased with each passing minute Dons boss Stephen Glass was forced into ripping up one game plan after another but he and his players found a way to overcome one setback after another to pick-up all three points.
What an important win it was too with Christian Ramirez’s excellent strike giving Aberdeen their first win in 11 matches and the end of a five-game losing run.
It was hard not to feel a sense of goodwill towards the Dons boss Glass who had to listen to fans chanting for him to leave a week ago after the loss at Dundee.
The roar of appreciation for the same group of players in recognition of how they overcome adversity to secure victory was as loud as it was deserved.
For Aberdeen, they will hope this result can be a line in the sand, a building block towards recovery. For Hibernian, it is surely their time to start facing some awkward questions after surrendering to defeat in the meekest of fashion for the third game running.
It’s a damning indictment of just how poor Jack Ross’ side was that they departed Pittodrie without mustering a solitary effort on goal against a team which has been anything but resilient defensively this season.
A meeting of two sides with fragile confidence was hardly going to produce a classic but Aberdeen deserved their interval lead even if it did come at a cost.
The loss of Jack Mackenzie, who will see a specialist on Monday following to assess the ankle damage suffered in training on Thursday was a pre-match blow for Aberdeen and their defensive options were reduced further before half-time.
Calvin Ramsay was first to depart, limping off a few minutes after delivering the cross for Christian Ramirez’s opening goal for the Dons and Aberdeen’s options at the back were further trimmed when Declan Gallagher also limped off after suffering an injury as he made a clearance just before the break.
It was far from ideal for an Aberdeen team which has kept one clean sheet in their previous 22 games.
When you add in the absence of long-term absentee Andy Considine the Dons coaching staff have been left thin on the ground and it showed as they finished the first half with a back four of Funso Ojo and Ross McCrorie at full back with Scott Brown partnering David Bates in central defence.
The one blessing for the Dons was that despite the enforced defensive reshuffles they endured in the opening 45 minutes goalkeeper Joe Lewis was a virtual spectator.
The home back four switched to a three-man defence for the second half with Brown playing sweeper in between McCrorie and Bates while Hayes and Ojo provided the wide cover as wing backs.
Predictably, Hibs put the makeshift defence under pressure in the second half but Aberdeen stood up well to the threat they faced with Brown in particular adding composure during a key period of the game.
Saturday’s match was one where it seemed every player at the back for the Dons was in danger and it looked as if Lewis was going to join his fallen team-mates in heading for an early exit after he suffered a head knock.
The defensive knocks were in danger of becoming farcical but mercifully the goalkeeper was able to continue following a lengthy break in play for treatment after a collision with team-mate McCrorie.
The long stoppage for Lewis resulted in seven minutes of stoppage time being added on but the late surge from the visitors never materialised.
Hibernian’s misery was compounded by the dismissal of Darren McGregor in the final minute of injury time for an off the ball collision in the box with Bates which left the Dons defender crumpled in a heap in his own box.
For Aberdeen though, this was a hugely important result. We’ll find out in the weeks ahead just how significant it was.
ABERDEEN (4-3-3) – Lewis 6, Ramsay (Hayes 31) 5, McCrorie 7, Gallagher (Longstaff 43) 5, Bates 6, Ojo 6, Ferguson 6, Brown 7, Hedges 7, Watkins (McGinn 78) 7, Ramirez 7. Subs not used – Woods, Emmanuel-Thomas, McGeouch, Samuel.
HIBERNIAN (4-3-3) – Macey 6, McGinn 6, McGregor 5, Hanlon 7, Cadden (Murphy 46), Doyle-Hayes (Wright 83) 5, Newell 6, Stevenson 6, Boyle 6, Gullan (Allan 60) 5, Nisbet 6. Subs not used – Dabrowski, Doig, Wood, Gogic.
Referee – Greg Aitken 7
Attendance – 9,431.
Man of the match – Scott Brown.