Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin says the Dons have already listed a number of replacements if new Millwall manager Alex Neil decides to recall striker Kevin Nisbet from his loan this month. (Press & Journal), external
Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.
Aberdeen's winless run extended to nine games as Ross County recorded their second Scottish Premiership away victory in a row.
What did you make of that then, Dons fans? Did you think you were going to score at the end?
What went wrong, and did anyone impress you? Let us know your thoughts here, external.
Image source, SNSAberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin told BBC Scotland: "I said from the beginning, it's a long-term process. We have things we have to improve, that's clear.
"That's the focus right now, how we can improve. Right now, in some parts of the games, it's not good enough. That's why we don't get the results.
"The second half starts well. We have really, really good momentum and then we give them one chance and they score. After that we lose the rhythm. Then we have a little spark in the end to try to get an equaliser. We have some big chances there but it was not there for us today.
"It's more about where we are as a team right now and how we can build together a stronger and more consistent team, game by game.
"We are up and down too much and that's why we are where we are performance-wise, and why it doesn't give us the result."
Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNSAberdeen's current malaise is a bit of a head-scratcher. They were not going to keep up their unbelievable early season form forever, but the drop off has been incredible.
There were, occasionally, signs of the team they were. At the start of the second half they were cutting County apart. At the end of the game too, they were pounding on the visitors door.
But for long spells in between, they struggled to click in attack and in defence, they were all over the shop for County's second goal.
They're missing a few key players, that's true. Dimitar Mitov is out for a few weeks with injury. Slobodan Rubezic and Sivert Heltne Nilsen both missed today with suspension. Papa Gueye, who started the season electrically, is still missing.
But for too long, key players struggled to impose themselves and on the whole, they missed far too many chances to blame anyone but themselves.
Image source, SNSAberdeen goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov will miss the next four weeks after picking up a minor injury, the club have announced.
The Bulgaria international missed three games in December with a hamstring injury and was replaced by Ross Doohan for matches against Celtic, St Johnstone and Hibernian.
The 27-year-old, who has nine caps for his country, has been the number one for Aberdeen since he arrived from St Johnstone in the summer.
He also played the full 90 minutes in the recent 1-0 loss to Dundee United.
Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNSJamie McGrath has proved himself to be a consistent performer in the Premiership, first with St Mirren then Dundee United and Aberdeen, for whom the 28-year-old midfielder has scored four goals this season.
His six top-flight assists also make him equal top with Celtic winger Nicolas Kuhn and Motherwell midfielder Lennon Miller.
Capped 13 times for Republic of Ireland, you would imagine McGrath would attract interest from around the UK, but his only sojourn south of the Border with Wigan Athletic only lasted a year and it might be a case of once bitten twice shy.
The Dons have been in negotiations with McGrath and Jack MacKenzie, the latest in a long line of fine left-backs to emerge from Scotland, while they have an option of extending midfielder Ante Palaversa's contract by another two years.
Other deals expiring: Duk, forward; Ross Doohan, goalkeeper; Angus MacDonald, defender; Tom Ritchie, goalkeeper.
Read more: Premiership summer free agents facing uncertain January
Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin is ready to replace forward Kevin Nisbet should the 27-year-old be recalled by parent club Millwall. (Press and Journal - subscription), external
Jamie McGrath will be relishing the visit of Ross County as the midfielder looks to help end Aberdeen's dismal run of eight games without defeat and three consecutive defeats.
The 28-year-old Republic of Ireland cap has scored six goals in his last six Premiership appearances against the Highland side.
His five in five since joining Aberdeen includes a double in the corresponding fixture exactly a year ago, when the Dons left Dingwall with a 3-0 win.
Having scored five times this season overall, and being the top provider to six Premiership goals - along with Celtic winger Nicolas Kuhn and Motherwell midfielder Lennon Miller - McGrath will no doubt find himself a marked man by the visitors.
Ending a four-game losing streak with a win in Dundee and draw with Heart of Midlothian, Don Cowie's side will arrive in buoyant mood, but Aberdeen are nine unbeaten against County since a 1-0 loss at Pittodrie in April 2022 and won the reverse fixture by the same score in August.
Liam McLeod
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator
Aberdeen's mid-season capitulation shows no sign of abating with the team slumping to three successive defeats amid a run of no wins in eight following Sunday's late loss at Dundee Utd which has hauled Jim Goodwin's team to within three points of their visitors.
Just over five weeks ago, that gap was 12 points and Jimmy Thelin's men had a game in hand as well.
Kevin Holt's late goal piled on the misery for the Dons fans who'd made the short journey south to Tannadice in big numbers, but it's hard to argue that United didn't deserve the win. They looked the more dangerous team and Dimitar Mitov made several brilliant saves in the first half to keep Aberdeen competitive in that match.
The winning goal was controversial because it looked like substitute Dante Polvara had been fouled not long before the ball hit the net, but referee John Beaton penalised the American for deliberate hand-ball instead, with the hosts scoring from a simple long throw into the Aberdeen box.
It was yet more woeful defending and another reminder to Thelin, and those that control the purse-strings, that the team's rearguard is badly in need of strengthening.
Just two shots on target in the game and three scored in six outings proves the other end of the pitch needs looked at as well.
The Dons are bottom of the eight-game form table and despite still sitting third and just two points behind Rangers in second, that is getting close to a sample size of a quarter of a season and this week's visit of Ross County is absolutely massive for Thelin with trips to Motherwell and Ibrox either side of a home game against Hearts.
A winter of discontent isn't a new phenomenon for Aberdeen.
At this time of year in 2020, Derek McInnes was sitting on a point more than Thelin currently has during his final campaign at Pittodrie before embarking on a slump of two wins in 13 that saw him lose the job after eight years.
Less than 12 months later Stephen Glass was removed with Jim Goodwin and Barry Robson suffering the same fate in the three terms that followed during bleak mid-winters.
The transfer window is now open and the Dons' fans will hope it helps salvage a season that is currently in free-fall.
Aberdeen will have an on-pitch leader if they land Latvia captain Kristers Tobers, according to Janis Vitols, of Baltic Football News, after submitting a bid to Swiss club Grasshoppers for the 24 year-old defender, who is out of contract in the summer. (Press & Journal), external
Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full.
Image source, SNSAberdeen have won five of their last six league meetings with Ross County (D1), keeping four clean sheets in the process.
Ross County have lost both of their last two league visits to Aberdeen, this after only losing one of their previous five beforehand (W2 D2).
Aberdeen have only lost their first league game of a calendar year in two of their last 15 years (W8 D5), losing 0-1 to Motherwell in 2020 and 0-2 to Rangers in 2018.
Excluding 2019 when they were promoted, Ross County have only won their opening Scottish Premiership game of a calendar year once in their last nine attempts (D3 L5), a 3-1 win over Motherwell in 2022.
Jamie McGrath has scored six goals in his last six Scottish Premiership appearances against Ross County, including five in five for Aberdeen.
Watch Sportscene analysis of Aberdeen's 1-0 defeat against Dundee United in the Scottish Premiership.
(Available to UK users only).
With the January transfer window fast approaching, where does your club need to strengthen?
Who do you want brought in and who - if anyone - is it time to ship out?
