Jim Goodwin is clinging on to his job as Aberdeen manager after guiding the club to arguably one of the worst results in their 120-year history.
The Dons are dropping like a stone in the Premiership after recording one win in eight matches since returning from the World Cup break, and their worrying decline reached a nadir on Monday when they lost 1-0 to West of Scotland side Darvel in the Scottish Cup.
The defeat to a club in the sixth tier of Scottish football prompted a furious reaction from the Dons support at Recreation Park and on social media, and has left the under-pressure Aberdeen manager facing a fight to keep his job.
His future now lies in the hands of club chairman Dave Cormack, the man who appointed him in February last year.
We take a look at the seven games which have left Goodwin on the brink at Pittodrie.
Dundee United 4, Aberdeen 0
The Dons travelled to Tannadice on October 8 to face bottom club Dundee United, who were without a win in the league.
But a miserable display was punished by the Tangerines as they put Aberdeen to the sword.
Goodwin was left powerless sitting in the stand watching the horror show unfold due to a touchline ban.
Two goals from Aziz Behich and Tony Watt of United in the final five minutes of the first half put them in control, before a Jamie McGrath penalty and a Ross McCrorie own-goal put the seal on a famous win for the home side.
Rangers 4, Aberdeen 1
The Dons looked to have bounced back from their Tannadice torment with wins against Hearts, Partick Thistle and Motherwell, but a trip to Ibrox on October 29 saw them swept aside by a rampant Rangers.
Aberdeen made a bright start in Glasgow, taking an early lead through Connor Barron, but they were in front all of six minutes as Antonio Colak equalised, before John Lundstram’s injury-time goal put Rangers 2-1 up at the break.
Further goals from James Tavernier and Alfredo Morelos ensured a comfortable afternoon’s work for the Light Blues as Aberdeen were left counting themselves fortunate only to have conceded four.
Aberdeen 0, Celtic 1
A narrow defeat to the champions is no disgrace on paper, but the manner of the defeat rankled supporters as they watched their side go down in meek fashion upon their return from the World Cup break on December 17.
Just 19% possession and two shots at goal, against a Celtic side which managed 33 attempts, told the story of as one-sided a game as Pittodrie has witnessed between these sides.
Aberdeen’s cautious, defensive approach almost earned them a point, too, until Hoops captain Callum McGregor struck three minutes from time.
St Mirren 3, Aberdeen 1
The Dons gifted St Mirren an early present on Christmas Eve in Paisley as captain Anthony Stewart was sent off.
Matty Kennedy’s spectacular strike gave the Dons an early lead, but Stewart’s dismissal for giving away a penalty changed the game in the home side’s favour.
The Dons had no luck as the resulting penalty from Mark O’Hara hitting the post before ricocheting into the net off goalkeeper Kelle Roos for the equaliser.
O’Hara then added a second from the spot in the second half, before a third penalty for the home side, taken by Jonah Ayunga, was saved by Roos.
However, Saints added a third in stoppage time through Greg Kiltie after Roos had gone up for a corner in the hope of helping his side find an equaliser.
Kilmarnock 2, Aberdeen 1
Another away game brought yet more misery for the Dons as they suffered a defeat at the hands of former manager Derek McInnes’ Kilmarnock.
The December 28 win was a deserved one for the home side as they recorded their first home triumph against Aberdeen in 11 years thanks to first half goals from Scott Robinson and Joe Wright.
Matty Kennedy halved the arrears with a spectacular free-kick in stoppage time, but it was too little, too late for the Dons.
A performance so poor manager Goodwin felt the need to apologise.
Hearts 5, Aberdeen 0
The meeting between third-placed Hearts and the fifth-placed Dons on January 18 was a mismatch as Aberdeen were swept aside in the capital.
The Dons trailed 4-0 at the break as more awful defending was exposed by a ruthless Jambos side.
A Graeme Shinnie own-goal and strikes from Michael Smith, Lawrence Shankland and Josh Ginnelly effectively settled this game before the interval.
Cameron Devlin’s goal in the 61st minute was icing on the cake.
Goodwin said the display left him feeling embarrassed and humiliated.
Darvel 1, Aberdeen 0
The worst result of all as Aberdeen exited the Scottish Cup at the first hurdle following a shocking display against West of Scotland League side Darvel at Recreation Park.
Five leagues separated the two sides, but it was the Dons who looked the poorer outfit as they struggled to impose themselves.
With the country watching live on television, Darvel etched their name in Scottish Cup history as Jordan Kirkpatrick’s first half goal helped them record one of the biggest shocks ever seen in the competition.
For Goodwin, further humiliation and embarrassment. For his chairman, a display which has left him with a huge decision to make.
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