Aberdeen fell to a fourth consecutive Premiership defeat as their late 2024 form dragged into the new year, with Ross County running out 2-1 winners at a snowy Pittodrie.

Despite the challenging conditions, the heroics of the ground staff ensured the game could continue, but the Red Army were left once against watching another game slip away as Akil Wright's screamer opened the scoring for the visitors.

Kevin Nisbet, who replaced Ester Sokler after the latter went off injured, managed to force an error out of Jordan Assimah from a free-kick to pull one back, but Noah Chilvers' second-half finish ensured the points would be heading back with the Staggies to Dingwall.

READ MORE: Aberdeen make major transfer statement as Dons throw weight behind Jimmy Thelin

READ MORE: Motherwell v Aberdeen: Live stream, team news and more as Dons look to avoid fifth straight defeat

It's another damaging result for Aberdeen's aspirations of finishing third, with Rangers moving five clear in second with a big win over Celtic and Dundee United in with a chance of going level on points in Thursday evening's Dundee Derby.

Immediately from the kick-off there was the unwelcome arrival of heavy snow, with the white ball replaced for a yellow one and the lines on the pitch gradually becoming less visible as the minutes passed.

Neither side got a grip of the game amid the dreadful conditions, and even VAR was struggling, with the technology ditched for offside decisions and the on-field calls to stand.

A brief pause in play after the opening 15 minutes came to allow the ground staff to clear the lines, and eventually the game came to life, but not in the way Aberdeen would have wanted.

Topi Keskinen's high tackle on Connor Randall saw him booked, and then came a stunning strike as Wright fired the ball well beyond Ross Doohan from 30 yards to leave the Red Army silenced.

New year, same problems for Aberdeen as they fell behind once again, and things swiftly got worse when Sokler went down with a calf problem before eventually being replaced by Kevin Nisbet.

The Dons had lost Dimitar Mitov to injury before kick-off, and now their striker was off hurt, so all eyes were on Nisbet to see if he could recreate the magic touch that beat the Staggies in Dingwall in a dramatic clash last time the sides met.

James Brown was next to be booked after shoving Duk during a counter-attack from the hosts, but there was no sign of referee David Dickinson looking to upgrade the card to red for denying a goalscoring opportunity despite the disapproval of the home support.

Join our Aberdeen FC Facebook group for all the latest Dons news

An additional 10 minutes were added on to the first-half to make up for the snow delay, and during the extra minutes came more chances for the visitors.

Jack MacKenzie failed to deal with a Brown cross, and Noah Chilvers was able to tee up George Harmon, but his strike was blocked well by the Dons defence.

Nohan Kenneh then darted behind the back line, with Doohan called into action to save his effort in what was a huge chance for County to double their lead.

They were soon left reeling however as Nisbet drew the Dons level in the 56th minute of the half, with the striker's low free-kick somehow squirming through Amissah despite the keeper's initial save.

It was a moment he won't want to see back, but it finally brought a reason to cheer to Pittodrie, and as the snow came down once again Thelin knew his side needed to turn up the heat to secure a first win in nine.

Another huge effort to clear the pitch at half-time was complete, and the game was eventually back underway with the Dons fans praying for more goals and a bit less of the white stuff.

Aberdeen did manage to burst into life, with Duk causing plenty of problems for County going forward as his strike rattled the woodwork after testing Amissah.

The Staggies keeper, desperate to make amends for his first-half blunder, again came to his side's rescue, with Duk charging down the left flank to set up Nisbet, but the Scotland striker's effort from close range was denied with a strong save.

But the strong start to the half once again came undone, as Noah Chilvers looked to cross the ball into the box and managed to drift into the box unchallenged and lift the ball over Doohan for the lead.

It was a similar story to some of Aberdeen's performances at the tail end of last year, but again they went on the hunt for an equaliser, with Angus MacDonald's header clawed away from the net by Amissah.

Ryan Leak's afternoon ended early after appearing to injure himself chasing down the Dons attack, with Charlie Telfer brought on in his place as time looked to be slipping away from the hosts as they searched for a way back into the game.

Duk went down in the box, but the referee awarded a free-kick to Ross County as the Aberdeen winger was booked for simulation with his side staring at yet another defeat in the final minutes.

Sign up to our Aberdeen F.C newsletter to get the latest headlines, transfer news and more sent to your inbox

Peter Ambrose, brought off the bench late on, was given the glorious chance to snatch a point, but he sent the free-kick over the bar from outside the box, with Ronan Hale unable to kill the game off moments later when the County man's effort also flew over.

Shayden Morris burst down the right flank, and sent a perfect cross in to Nisbet, but he couldn't add to his first-half strike with his header wide of the mark.

One last chance saw Keskinen make the run and send the ball towards Nisbet, but again the forward couldn't keep his finish down and the late thrusts towards goal proved to be in vain.

It's the ninth game without victory for the Dons and a fourth defeat in a row, and it leaves Dundee United with a chance to overtake the Reds into third if they win their evening derby clash at Dens Park.

A trip to Motherwell is up next, and after Aberdeen's early season form it seems bewildering to think they could risk a fifth straight defeat, but that's the job Thelin's men now have to tackle if they are to stop the slump in form.