Unhappy Hibs boss Jack Ross ripped into his team after they meekly surrendered third spot to Aberdeen.
The Easter Road outfit could have gone second with a win but slipped to fourth after a self-inflicted defeat at Pittodrie.
Two mistakes gifted Scott Wright and Sam Cosgrove their goals and Ross insisted his team weren’t good enough at either end of the pitch.
Ross said: “We didn’t play well enough to win the game. I am very protective of my players and praise them but I am scathing of them tonight. At the start of the game individual errors cost us and after that we huffed and puffed but we didn’t have a real conviction about our play that we should have and if we want to go and compete with Aberdeen, Rangers and Celtic then we need to be better than we were tonight. We also need to be stronger than we were tonight.
“I am annoyed and irritated and I have told them that. They have had a lot of praise and protection from me and they need to be big enough to take some criticism."
The Hibs boss also had a go at referee Euan Anderson for denying him a penalty and Martin Boyle another free kick in a dangerous area.
He added: “The first one is a penalty and the second is a free kick. They are poor decisions. Euan didn’t have a good game.”
Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes was delighted to draw level with Celtic and delighted to see Sam Cosgrove open his account for the season.
He admitted: “I am pleased with the start we have made and the points tally we have had up to now.
“But it’s just a start and I have to stress that.
“But I feel there is more in us.
“Sam Cosgrove’s finish is top class, he’s still getting up to speed and was untidy at times but you could see how he’s coming along. It was a good night’s work and we are happy to get him back among the goals.
“Scott Wright has two goals this season but could have six, seven or eight because he gets in good positions.”
