Aberdeen are now winless in nine games as they slumped to yet another defeat against an impressive Ross County.
Ross County were the first to get a shot on target as Josh Nisbet tested stand-in Aberdeen stopper Ross Doohan, who returned to the starting line-up as a result of Dimitar Mitov’s injury setback.
Play was then stopped by the referee due to heavy snowfall after 15 minutes as ground staff cleared the lines to improve visibility for the officials.
The game restarted after around five minutes and not too long later, Ross County took the lead – and what a goal it was.
The ball sat up perfectly for Akil Wright before he lashed in a looping 30-yard effort over the head of Doohan to silence Pittodrie.
County, just before half-time, should have been 2-0 up when Nohan Kenneh raced through on goal from the left-hand side. However, Doohan made a decent stop to divert the shot clear.
After a lengthy head knock stoppage, Aberdeen were handed a free-kick on the edge of the box and they managed to equalise from it.
Kevin Nisbet was the man to strike from 25 yards out and his shot squirmed under County stopper Jordan Amissah to bring Aberdeen back on level terms.
Aberdeen started fast in the second period with Duk smashing the crossbar as Jimmy Thelin’s men searched a goal to take them in front.
But against the run of play, it was Ross County who were back in front with their first meaningful chance of the second-half.
Noah Chilvers drove into the box from the left and dinked a cross to the back post. But the delivery was goal-bound and the ball fell into the opposite corner of the net over Doohan’s head with Aberdeen finding themselves in another hole.
On 77 minutes, Duk penetrated the box and went down screaming for a penalty. But referee David Dickinson immediately awarded a free-kick for County and penalised the Cape Verde star for diving.
It was checked by VAR to determine any contact on Duk but Dickinson’s original call stood and play continued.
Aberdeen continued to have more of the ball but their decision-making and execution was severely lacking and it did not look very likely that they’d find another equaliser.
Two further chances did come for the Dons via Peter Ambrose and Nisbet, but they both somehow missed the target and the game ended 2-1 to County.
Here’s a few things Not The Old Firm learned from the game.
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Snowy conditions made for challenging start
There were fears before this game about the blizzard-like conditions causing problems – and it’s safe to say it was a concern in the first-half.
Referee Dickinson had to stop the game in the first-half as the snow battered down mercilessly. The lines were then cleared and play restarted but it meant a mammoth 15 minutes of added time at the end of the opening period.
The ground staff then cleared the rest of the snow from the pitch during the interval before the snow abated in the second-half and conditions for the players greatly improved.
Impressive Ross County pick up worthy win
County were fully deserved winners in the Granite City and it’s a massive win that takes them seven points clear of bottom club St Johnstone.
Don Cowie’s men were more threatening than Aberdeen in the first-half and tested Doohan in goals more than Amissah.
They pressed really well across the encounter and did not give Aberdeen a moment’s peace in possession. The Staggies were also solid in defence and dangerous on the counter-attack which played a major part in their win.
Concerning times for Aberdeen
What has happened to Aberdeen? It’s the question on everyone’s lips at the moment. Jimmy Thelin’s side look devoid of confidence or ideas in terms of how to turn this rut around.
The Dons lacked fluidity in their play and struggled to combat Ross County’s press. They didn’t even have a shot on target until stoppage time in the first-half and struggled to create chances.
That cluelessness in attack continued in the second-half, even though they had more of the ball and seemed to get forward with a bit more intent.
Aberdeen ended up resorting to firing balls into the box without any real purpose, with the creativity seemingly zapped from this team altogether.
They could now drop down to fourth place by close of play today if Dundee United win the Dundee derby and Thelin is now under serious pressure to deliver answers to the mounting problems.