Hibs survived a commanding Aberdeen display to record their third consecutive league win courtesy of goals from Dylan Vente and Will Fish, with Bojan Miovski seeing a late penalty saved by David Marshall. If the Dons were tired from their Finnish excursion in midweek, they showed no sign of it, with the visitors dominating large spells of the match. But they found Marshall in inspired form when they breached the Hibs rearguard and a defensive error from Slobodan Rubezic plus a goal from a set-piece were their undoing.

The result will give Hibs confidence going into a challenging run of four away games, while the clean sheet - their second in three matches - will be a confidence-booster for the defence.

Patrick McPartlin was at Easter Road to provide the instant analysis.

Winning ugly

The last time these two teams met, Hibs were by far the better team but left Hampden empty-handed. While Aberdeen couldn't be too aggrieved with the outcome at a frosty Easter Road, there was a sense of role reversal as the Dons enjoyed an expected goals (xG) of 3.71 to Hibs' 1.60, as per StatsBomb.

David Marshall's performance played a big part in the outcome but it will have been particularly pleasing for Nick Montgomery to see his team grind out a result that looked considerably more comfortable than the reality. His team has played well and lost, and played well and drawn, and while they weren't outplayed as such, the stats reveal just how much of a threat Aberdeen were. It feels like another step forward in Montgomery's masterplan and while nothing can make up for losing a cup semi-final, you'd imagine turning the tables on Barry Robson's side to secure a third consecutive league win will have felt particularly satisfying.

The transformations just keep on coming

It wasn't that long ago - in the aftermath of the 4-0 defeat by Rangers - that David Marshall's credentials as undisputed Hibs No.1 were questioned by a section of the support and true; he had looked suspect at one or two of the goals conceded at Ibrox, and there is never anywhere to hide for a goalkeeper who makes a defining error in a match.

There has been a lot of discussion about Nick Montgomery's Midas touch in transforming players; Jair Tavares is the obvious one but Rocky Bushiri is developing into a reliable ball-playing centre-back as well. But the uptick in Marshall's form since the heavy defeat in Govan has been noticeable as well and against the Dons he arguably made the largest contribution to the result, denying Bojan Miovski from the penalty spot and pulling off a number of important saves. There was one hairy moment from a goal kick but as the player himself said ahead of the game - the way Montgomery plays is risk versus reward. And there were plenty of rewards on Sunday, not least the man of the match award for the shot-stopper.

Another day, another debut for a youngster

Rudi Molotnikov had already turned out for Hibs under Lee Johnson in pre-season friendly matches, and made his competitive debut as a late substitute in the Europa Conference League against Aston Villa at Villa Park. But this was his first league appearance, replacing Jair Tavares late on. There wasn't a great deal of attacking work for the 17-year-old but he mucked in late on when Hibs gave a good example of 'backs-to-the-wall' defending.

Molotnikov has often played as a ten for the Hibs under-18s and development squad and as we know, Nick Montgomery doesn't employ a formation that makes use of a traditional playmaker. But when one considers how Josh Campbell has adapted his game to suit Montgomery's system there may be a lesson there for Molotnikov, who is a versatile player as it is but if he wants greater gametime, that might be the next step for the teenager. 

How Whittaker fared on home debut

With Lewis Miller suspended and Chris Cadden still sidelined, there was almost an inevitability - despite Will Fish's auxiliary deployment in the position at Dens Park - that Rory Whittaker would step into the Australian's boots at right-back for his first start at Easter Road - a further sign of the trust the coaching staff have in the 16-year-old. Perhaps there was an element of good fortune as well in that the teenager was up against James McGarry, a player Nick Montgomery will know plenty about having signed him for Central Coast Mariners. 

There is still plenty for the defender to work on - he was done a few times at crosses - but he slotted in well to the back four and will have taken confidence from his display. Playing the full 90 minutes also won't have done him any harm either - and had he been subbed off and Fish played out of position, that might have had an adverse effect on the youngster so it looks like more smart man-management from Montgomery. Make no mistake though; Whittaker did look dead on his feet at full-time but he coped well for the 90 minutes and leaving him on wasn't just a goodwill gesture from his manager. 

Vente ends drought and defence records another clean sheet

Had Dylan Vente not scored in this game, the striker would have gone ten games without finding the net - nothing any goal-getter wants to endure. But with 18 minutes on the clock he was unselfishly played in by Martin Boyle and tucked away the opener for Hibs. You could see the relief on the Dutchman's face and the sense of joy was palpable. Nick Montgomery rightly pointed out that his all-round game and hard work means he is contributing even when he isn't on the scoresheet but the former Roda JC frontman will have enjoyed taking his tally to six in all competitions since moving to Scotland.

At the other end of the pitch the defence recorded their second clean sheet in three games - and were only five or so minutes away from a shutout against Dundee last week, which would have been particularly impressive with ten men. Given how porous the backline was at the start of the season, and in the early days of the Montgomery era, a new-found ability to frustrate opponents and improve their goal difference is a priceless step forward.