Hibs somehow rescued a point at the very death as an utterly chaotic clash with Aberdeen ended in a draw.

2-1 down heading into stoppage time, a stunning Nicky Cadden free-kick dragged David Gray's side level, only for an overhead kick from Ester Sokler to put the Dons back in front. Undeterred, Hibs charged back up the other end and Rocky Bushiri was on hand to bundle the ball over the line to cap an unbelievable finish to a bonkers game.

Hibs remain bottom of the Scottish Premiership on goal difference, but this battling display against a high-flying Aberdeen offers evidence that they are still fighting for their under-fire boss. Joe Newell had deservedly put Hibs in front before the interval, only for that advantage to be overturned by goals from Jamie McGrath and Nicky Devlin, the latter from a bad error from goalkeeper Jordan Smith, who had been thrust in following another blunder from Josef Bursik at the weekend.

It was one of several talking points from a crazy 90-plus minutes, one that started with Ultras group Block Seven unfurling a banner that read 'sack the board'. Chants were aimed at the directors box throughout, and that ill-feeling will take some shifting, but the end to the game was at once an example of Hibs' deficiencies and the fact that the team are still scrapping for Gray.

A truly bonkers finale

This fixture had begun to resemble a basketball game long before the stoppage time drama, but even then, who could have predicted just ridiculous it would get? When Cadden's free-kick curled high into the net, you dared to think Hibs had just secured themselves a draw. But given how preposterous this season has been, it wasn't all that surprising that Aberdeen went straight up the other end to restore their advantage through a Sokler overhead kick. That looked to be that - and it really should've been - but what followed will give Gray a glimmer of hope that this really can turn round. Hibs through caution to the wind, and Bushiri threw himself at the ball, willing it over the line by any means necessary. It was astonishing stuff, surely one of the most dramatic finales to any Premiership match in recent memory. 

Change of goalie, same outcome

Gray had no real choice but to drop Josef Bursik, in all honesty. It had simply been one costly error too many from the man signed on-loan from Club Brugge in the summer. A howler against Dundee proved the final straw, with Gray previously backing his number one through a collection of mishaps. Part of that, perhaps, was influenced by backup goalkeeper Jordan Smith largely being a career number two. This outing for the 28-year-old Englishman was his first league appearance since turning out for Nottingham Forest against XX all the way back in 2021. The only real glimpse of him we'd had in a Hibs shirt prior to this was an unconvincing display in July's Premier Sports Cup defeat to League One side Kelty Hearts. Smith wouldn't be human if this hadn't induced some level of nervousness into him, and it came to the fore in the costly error that led to Aberdeen's secod goal. Attempting to punch a corner, Smith got nowhere near it, and the ball dropped for Devlin to loop over everyone into the net. If you're being critical, Smith could perhaps have done better with Sokler's overhead effort, as he seemed to palm it into his own net. Either way, it's hard to argue Smith has taken his chance. Gray was forced into the change, Bursik couldn't feasibly continue in the starting XI, but he's again been let down by his man between the sticks.

Change of shape shows some promise

Gray could have been tempted to slot Jack Iredale in the for the suspended Jordan Obita and stick with the back four but, perhaps with one eye on how St Mirren upset Aberdeen at the weekend, he dropped the Australian onto the left of a back three alongside Rocky Bushiri and Warren O'Hora. Lewis Miller went to right wing-back, Nicky Cadden to left. Newell and Nectar Triantis were at the base of midfield with Junior Hoilett playing in behind a front two of Mykola Kukharevych and Elie Youan. 

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Hibs were the better side in a first-half that couldn't quite spark into life. The home side were energetic and full of endeavour, supporting their head coach's repeated assertion that they have not thrown in the towel on his leadership. The attacking threat is still largely predicated on crosses from wide, but wing-backs Cadden and Miller provided some good deliveries, and it was a cleared ball into the box that found its way to Newell for the opening goal. Defensively, the combination between Duk, Jamie McGrath and Jack MacKenzie caused some trouble down Hibs' right in the opening period, but Jimmy Thelin's early second-half change - Shayden Morris on for Topi Keskinen - paid immediate dividends. Morris got the jump on Cadden, and the danger with the back three will always be getting exposed down the sides, leading to a goalmouth scramble that fell kindly for McGrath to finish.

Up top, Kukharevych is still struggling to make an impact, but it was a better night for Elie Youan, who was again Hibs' biggest attacking threat. With Marvin Ekpiteta out for 'number of weeks' according to Gray, Hibs could just stick with this shape