Last updated on .From the section Scottish Premiership

Hibernian boosted their European qualification hopes after a dominant second-half against Aberdeen at a packed Easter Road.

Visiting goalkeeper Freddie Woodman denied Jamie Maclaren from point-blank range, but seconds later Martin Boyle headed in at the back post.

Florian Kamberi drilled in a second when he turned well in the box.

Maclaren twice, Darren McGregor and Scott Allan all went close to a third goal for an impressive Hibs side.

Both sides needed no reminder of the incentives dangling for the winners of this one. Hibs had the chance to move within two points of third-placed Rangers before their game with Hamilton, and the visitors had Celtic in their sights, only eight points above them at the top of the table.

With both teams in fine form, it had all the ingredients of a cracker in the cold capital sunshine.

It was a ferocious start as both sets of players battled breathlessly for domination of a packed midfield area. Hibs looked a little sharper and early chances came from John McGinn and Maclaren, but neither really looked like troubling Woodman in the Aberdeen goal.

The Dons started to find pockets of space but Kenny McLean had a theatrical dive from Ofir Marciano to thank for making his long range effort seem more dangerous than it actually was.

Hibs ended the first half pressing Aberdeen back further and further, but it just wouldn't fall for them in front of goal. Shortly after the restart, it did and their tenacity paid off.

Australian striker Maclaren could only smash the ball against Woodman after finding himself one-on-one. He was offered a second crack at it from the rebound, but when that was also saved, the ball bounced into the path of Boyle who nodded in at the back post.

An Easter Road, that was bursting at the seams, erupted in response. Soon it was two and it was no more than they deserved. Hibs were rampant.

Allan's shot was deflected and when the ball broke to Kamberi the Swiss striker swivelled and swept the ball low past Woodman.

Martin Boyle (left) heads Hibernian in front

Hibs continued to pour forward and Aberdeen were rocked back onto the ropes time and time again as they struggled to deal with a home side in full flow. Allan and Dylan McGeouch in particular were pulling the strings and central to all that was good about the home side.

McLean had a long range shot that was spilled by Marciano, but the danger was cleared and Aberdeen were looking more and more a defeated team.

In the past this Hibs side may have let the nerves kick in as the clock clicked down, but in this one they kept their foot on Aberdeen's throat and Woodman had to pull off saves from Allan and Kamberi near the end to keep it in some way respectable.