Hibs' Ryan Porteous dismissed in wake of Steve Conroy 'infantile' comments as Aberdeen breathe life into top-six charge

The chase for a place among the cinch Premiership’s elite will go to the wire as the clubs behind Hibs capitalised on their defeat to Aberdeen to close the gap and, in the case of Dundee United, usurp them in fourth.

Moreover, these vital three points for the Pittodrie side – their first win in 11 games – mean that they remain in the race.

But there was an element of the Edinburgh outfit shooting themselves in the foot as they went down to 10 men for the final half and hour – their tenth sending off of the season – allowing their hosts to slot home their second penalty and then make the most a dishevelled defence to put them game out of sight with ten minutes remaining.

Former referee Steve Conroy had annoyed many in the Hibs camp with his evisceration of defender Ryan Porteous on a podcast. Focusing on the centre-beck's reaction to Bevis Mugabi’s dismissal in last weekend’s Scottish Cup tie, the ex whistler branded him “pathetic”, “idiotic”, “infantile” and suggested Hibs have a word with a player Maloney has described as the best defender in the country in recent weeks.

On the back of that, the last thing Porteous needed was another early bath. It was also the last thing his team needed.

They had taken the lead in the 21st minute when a Chris Cadden cross was swung in deep from the right and, aware of the danger behind him, Calvin Ramsey stuck out a leg looking to hook it away but instead directed it beyond Joe Lewis.

In a fiery and fractious match, which was bursting with energy but was punctuated by fouls, that gave the away side a fortuitous lead.

Aberdeen had been on the front foot as both teams demonstrated a desire to win the match but Aberdeem seemed more clued up as to how to achieve that.

This was