Any hopes Mark Proctor had of heading off a late challenge by John Collins for the Hibernian managerial post probably disappeared on Monday as his side were beaten 2-1 at Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership.
Although Proctor had started off his reign as caretaker, following the departure of Tony Mowbray for West Brom, with a thumping 4-1 win over Dunfermline and earned the support of the players it seems inevitable that Collins, a former player there before moving onto play for Celtic and Monaco among other sides, would be named manager yesterday.
Hibs chances were not helped with striker Chris Killen earning his second sending-off of the season after a second bookable offence having earlier put Hibs into the lead with his third goal in two matches just after half-time.
However the Dons -- who moved into fourth place in the table 13 points adrift of leaders Celtic -- leveled through Lee Miller in the 55th minute and when Killen got his marching orders in the 65th minute -- one of six Hibs players to be booked -- his side had to mount a rearguard effort to keep a rampant Aberdeen at bay.
The hosts had two decent appeals for penalties turned down before Scott Severin saw a volley blocked by the goalkeeper Zbigniew Malkowski while Barry Nicholson should have scored instead of heading wide in front of an empty net.
His embarrassing miss was set aside when Severin got the winner in stoppage time and probably dealt the death knell for Proctor's hopes of a longer tenure.
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