ABERDEEN may or may not go on to win the league this season but they will not win the league cup. After 81 minutes of dubious merit on an icy night at Easter Road, Hibernian produced two goals of real quality in the nick of time to end the Dons' designs on this competition. The Easter Road side joined St Johnstone, Dundee United and Dundee in the catalogue of teams who have put paid to the Pittodrie side's cup hopes since lifting this particular piece of silverware back in 2014.

This game was extra time in waiting until Jason Cummings pirouetted on the edge of the Aberdeen penalty area and sent a searing half volley into the corner of Danny Ward's net. Suddenly the goals were raining in, and when substitute Dominic Malonga cantered all of 50 yards and slalomed past three defenders to slot in the clinching second, a few members of the 3,000 strong away support began the long weary trudge home.

Not many in the wider Scottish football public may have given them a prayer but as it turned out Alan Stubbs had experienced a premonition that his side would prevail. "I fancied us," said Stubbs. "We were playing a good team but we have some exciting players who are just going to get better. We have not beaten the team who are top of the Premiership by luck, we have done it because we have got good players."

It wasn't the only reason why this was a costly night for Aberdeen and their supporters. With a view to their continuing pursuit of the Ladbrokes Premiership title, Derek McInnes lost two valued members of his squad to injury in the course of the night, in the form of Willo Flood and Graeme Shinnie. Flood couldn't continue after sustaining an early knock, while Shinnie had to be helped off the pitch after an innocuous incident right on half way. With Jonny Hayes out of action tonight due to suspension, the changes deprived them of a natural left-footer and some bite in their midfield.

While the extent of both injuries will be assessed in the coming days, it was a downbeat Derek McInnes who praised the efforts of the victors and promised to channel the disappointment towards their league campaign. If there is a silver lining, it is the fact they now no longer have the League Cup or the Europa League to strain their resources. "You have got to congratulate Hibs, they went with a system which we have used on European nights and you have to credit them with how resilient they were," said McInnes. "While they never threatened us too much, we didn't do enough to threaten them either. Sometimes it doesn't go your way but we are disappointed we haven't found the answers to separate the teams and Hibs have. The enforced changes don't help. That is a reason why we lost but not the only but not the only reason."

While Stubbs' decision to marshal his resources in a 3-5-2 shape proved a masterstroke, Aberdeen made two changes to the selection which had completed the first leg of this potential capital double on Sunday. In from the start came Adam Rooney in place of Peter Pawlett with Willo Flood taking the place of Paul Quinn in a reshuffle which saw Graeme Shinnie return to his usual stomping ground of left back. Before long, with his players dropping like flies, Pawlett and Ryan McLaughlin had joined the fray.

The fact that such tactical tinkering can be recounted at length tells its own story about the lack of other action going on in the field during a cautious, cagey first half. While Danny Ward uncharacteristically fumbled twice at a loose ball, the first time either goalkeeper got their gloves dirty in earnest was when Mark Oxley had to get down well to a low Rooney shot. Ward's handling was more assured from a low sighter from Martin Boyle but that apart this half was a barren wasteland compared to the attacking chutzpah on show at Ibrox, Cappielow and other destinations the night before.

With the knowledge that extra time and penalties awaited, Aberdeen gradually committed more of the resources towards winning the match. Some great work between McGinn and Goodwillie led to Pawlett getting on the end of the former's cross but he didn't get a free jump and could only head over. By now, Aberdeen were playing 3-4-3, attempting to bombard their hosts with crosses, but Andrew Considine could only head wastefully wide from within the six yard box. It was at the stage where it would take a piece of brilliance or a mistake to settle the tie. Thankfully it was the former. Hibs even managed two of them.

Hibernian (3-5-2): Oxley; McGregor, Hanlon, Fontaine; Gray, McGeouch, Henderson (Carmichael 61), McGinn, Stevenson; Boyle (Bartley 90), Cummings (Malonga 84).

Subs not used: Reguero, Bartley, Stanton, Dunsmore, Martin

Aberdeen (4-2-3-1): Ward; Logan, Taylor, Considine (Parker 83), Shinnie (McLaughlin 26); Jack, Flood (Pawlett 16); McGinn, McLean, Rooney; Goodwillie.

Subs not used: Brown, Smith, Robson, Quinn

Referee: S McLean

Booked: Hibs: Gray 54

Attendance: 11,092