Scoring goals is certainly not what Liam Miller was brought to Easter Road for - although the Irish international has no objections whatsoever to the opportunity falling his way from time to time! Not having scored since his arrival at Hibernian was certainly no problem for Liam, but you only had to witness his celebration on Saturday to realise that first goal was just a little bit important!

One wonders if there are not a few managers in the Scottish game right now who missed a trick where Miller was concerned. Out of contract with the new season fast approaching, it seemed that his name had indeed fallen off the Scottish radar - with even John Hughes admitting that it was not a scout that brought Liam to his attention, it was Liam himself!

The midfielder had a chat with the new Hibernian manager on the advice of a mutual friend, and after letting Hughes know that his only desire was to start enjoying his football again the path to Easter Road Stadium was cleared. The results have been there for all to see, and on Saturday the ability of the midfielder to get himself into scoring positions resulted in that first strike: "It's always nice to score a goal but I would not mind getting a few more!" a delighted Miller said after helping Hibernian into second place in the SPL: "At the same time the main aim is to get the points on the board - but hopefully I can get a few more goals during the course of the season."

Aberdeen supporters will obviously point to this game turning against them after Hibernian had that two-man numerical advantage for the final half-hour. It was a good backs-to-the-wall display from the Dons, and it will never be known if Hibernian would have made the breakthrough had these sending offs not happened. It hardly matters though, well not to Hibernian at least - the team still had a difficult and unusual job, Miller admitting it's a very different game when you are playing against a side who had to adjust to such a setback.

"It was of course unusual because you don't play against nine men very often, but at the same time it was still all about getting that first goal. They sat in for as long as they could, they were holding on for a draw and we had to break them down, we had to score first. When you break through the first time then that is when you can start picking them off and we did that with our second goal. Of course playing against nine men presents its own difficulties but that is part of the game and you have to adjust your play."

It is the second time this season that Hibernian have demonstrated the patience required in such situations, a patience that did not exist in the squad last season as evidenced by the 4-2 home defeat to a 10-man Kilmarnock side: "I think there is a fine line between drawing a game and winning a game - or even losing one. It is all about persistence and if we keep going, keep doing the right things that obviously comes from training and the standards we set, then that will obviously stand us in good stead for the game. You can do all the talking that you want but at the end of the day you have to get the points on the board and that is where you will be judged come the end of the season.

"There is a lot of quality in the team - there are lads like John Rankin and Patrick Cregg who are desperate to get back into the side. There are plenty of numbers there and fighting for a place so no-one is guaranteed a start. Everyone is looking over their shoulder, doing whatever they can to keep their place."

Hibernian in second place then - but. There has to be a 'but'. Not one person at the Hibernian Training Centre this morning will be shouting that from the rooftops, nice as it is for the supporters, for the players there is the professional reality that the real plaudits are handed out around May rather than November. All the same it as a solid platform from which to build: "It is obviously nice to be so close to the top but it is still early doors in season. However we are not just here to make up the numbers in the league, we are going to have a really good go this season. I would like to think that if we keep playing well - well then I don't see why not to be honest."

Pics: Alan Rennie for Hibernian TV - view a selection of Alan's images from every Hibernian game this season via the Gallery