Hibernian maintained the pressure on the Old Firm at the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League after two late goals secured a 2-0 victory over nine-man Aberdeen.

Given half-an-hour to secure the victory after second-half red cards for Dons duo Maurice Ross and Chris Maguire, John Hughes' men looked unable to end the stalemate at Easter Road.

But substitute Colin Nish popped up to net in the 88th minute before Liam Miller doubled the tally in injury-time to send Hibs above Rangers and into second spot, ahead of the Ibrox side playing on Sunday.

Hibs looked the more dangerous and on 27 minutes Anthony Stokes played in Kurtis Byrne, whose shot was only deflected wide thanks to an excellent saving lunge from Richard Foster.

Three minutes after the break Aberdeen who were reduced to 10 men as Ross caught Ian Murray late and was shown a second yellow card.

Matters for Aberdeen then turned dramatically worse as referee Steven Nicholls reduced them to nine men after sending Maguire up the tunnel just beyond the hour mark. Maguire, already booked, was shown a straight red card for a late lunge on Kevin McBride.

Hughes threw on Nish before Stokes somehow headed over a Derek Riordan free-kick. As Hibs made heavy weather of claiming the elusive goal, Nish was next to head past.

Dons youngster Fraser Fyvie then departed on a stretcher following an Ian Murray challenge. As tensions increased, Mark Kerr almost chipped Graham Stack but found the top of the net.

Hibs looked to have run out of ideas but they finally broke Aberdeen's resolve two minutes from time thanks to a fine header from Nish.

And Miller applied the gloss in injury time after firing home with the aid of a wicked deflection off Derek Young.