Manager in spotlight: Nick Montgomery

A scrap to finish seventh was not in the summer plans of Hibernian or Aberdeen yet that's what it has come to for this season's most glaring underachievers.

Both clubs have registered a mere 10 wins from 35 league matches, while three teams with significantly less money to spend are mixing it in the top six.

The ire from the Pittodrie stands has been placated with new manager Jimmy Thelin on the way and the stand-in steering the team away from the wrong end of the table.

Things are not nearly as settled at Easter Road.

Failure to reach the top half brought a rather vague statement from the board saying such an outcome was "unacceptable" and promising a "full review of the club's football structure".

The post-split fixtures began with an impressive dismantling of St Johnstone but that was immediately followed by defeat at Ross County, with the concession of yet another late goal.

The future of Montgomery is uncertain and the sight of the head coach applauding fans at full-time in Dingwall and receiving an angry earful in return made for extremely awkward viewing.

Hibs are unbeaten in their last five league meetings with Aberdeen and have not lost at home to Sunday's opponents since August 2020.

Will extending that record be enough to earn Montgomery more time or will the Edinburgh side soon be seeking a fifth manager since December 2021?

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