Aberdeen’s run without a win was extended to nine matches after they went down to a 2-1 defeat in a scrappy clash with Ross County at a snowy Pittodrie.
The Staggies adapted better to the conditions and took a deserved lead through Akil Wright’s wonderful strike, but the Dons levelled deep in first-half injury time thanks to Kevin Nisbet’s free-kick.
Jimmy Thelin’s men looked to be on the up after the break, but Noah Chilvers’ superb effort gave the visitors a valuable William Hill Scottish Premiership win.
Thelin was forced into four changes from the side that had agonisingly lost so late on to Dundee United on Sunday. Suspension ruled out Slobodan Rubezic, Sivert Heltne Nilsen and Ante Palaversa, while goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov, who returned from injury at Tannadice, has picked up another injury.
The visitors handed a start to loan signing Nohan Kenneh in midfield, one of three changes from their draw with Hearts, with Jordan White and James Brown also stepping into the starting 11.
Josh Nisbet forced a low save from Aberdeen goalkeeper Ross Doohan shortly before a four-minute break in play for the lines to be swept at Pittodrie.
When play resumed, Finland international Topi Keskinen, no stranger to these conditions, was booked for a high challenge which prompted – and cleared – a VAR check for serious foul play.
A minute later, the visitors were in front, and in some style. Chilvers squared for Wright to take a touch before looping a 25-yard effort well beyond the helpless Doohan and into the top-left corner.
Ester Sokler was forced off with a knee injury on the half-hour, one of a number of injuries that saw the first half stretch to 59 minutes.
And Aberdeen began to establish themselves as time ticked on, with Duk disappointingly hitting the side netting after a strong run from a Nicky Devlin through ball after 44 minutes.
Doohan came to the home side’s rescue as he denied Kenneh deep in injury time, but it was the Dons who – in the 11th minute of added time – would net a leveller.
A high challenge on Jamie McGrath saw the Irishman receive lengthy treatment, and when play resumed, Nisbet’s 20-yard free-kick could not be held by Jordan Amissah.
Perhaps that bit of fortune was what Aberdeen have been missing as they came out for the second half fired up, Duk hitting the bar after a neat pass from McGrath just four minutes into the second period.
Duk would turn provider for Nisbet with a clever cutback from the left, the on-loan Millwall man denied by Amissah at the near post before being bundled over, but a VAR review indicating referee David Dickinson was right to wave play on.
But it was County who regained the initiative as the home defence backed off Chilvers who picked the ball up in the left corner, allowing him infield to loft a superb effort in at the far post.
Aberdeen huffed and puffed but Amissah saved from Angus MacDonald before Duk’s last involvement saw him booked for simulation.
In injury time, a Nisbet header floated wide and the same man hit over as the Dons continue to search for a way to arrest their alarming slump in form.
