ABERDEEN'S blip has mushroomed into a full-scale crisis after weekend defeat at home to Hibs made it six games on the spin without a win.
And they face a tough Boxing Day assignment to one of their least favourite venues when they face Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.
The wheels have come off a juggernaut that raced to 13 games won in a row at the start of the season and suddenly the Dons look very dodgy at the back.
Central defence in particular looks very soft and an injury to keeper Dimitar Mitov has caused them plenty of disruption too.
They aren't creating as many chances too and their centre midfield pairing of Graeme Shinnie and Sivert Nilsen are beginning to look like their combined age of 66, with both 33-year-olds toiling recently.
They face their former manager and Derek McInnes will be relishing this one. He will be well aware, Aberdeen look ropey on the physicality front and pick his team accordingly.
Killie have been very inconsistent this season, but managed to defeat Hearts at home despite playing with ten men on the park for 84 minutes.
And they got a decent point at Motherwell on Friday.
How the bookies view it: Killie being backed.
Aberdeen started off as favourites, but have drifted out to 7/4 with Betfred.
Killie are 8/5 with Boylesports and the draw is 11/5 with the same firm.
Recent head to heads: Dons' four years of Ayrshire angst
Aberdeen haven't won at Rugby Park since 2020 and have lost on their last three visits including a pair of 2-0 defeats there last term. However, Aberdeen did defeat Killie at Pittodrie earlier this season.
Players to watch: Marley's the man.
Marley Watkins will be well up for it against his former club and will want to add to his four goals this season. The Welsh striker is 3/1 to score anytime with bet365
Aberdeen paid almost £1 million for Finnish winger Topi Keskinen and he netted his fifth goal of the season at the weekend. He is 4/1 to score anytime with the same firm.
Predicted line-ups:
Kilmarnock are still without defender Stuart Findlay while Matty Kennedy is unlikely to come back in time. Robbie Deas is available again.
Aberdeen are still without keeper Dimitar Mitov and top scorer Papa Gueye, while Nicky Devlin is an injury doubt.
Kilmarnock: McCrorie, Mayo, Wright, Ndaba, Lyons, Watson, Polworth, Armstrong, Vassell, Watkins, Anderson.
Aberdeen: Doohan, Devlin, McDonald, Molloy, MacKenzie, Shinnie, Palaversa, McGrath, Duk, Sokler, Keskinen.
Anything else catch the eye?
Aberdeen suddenly look very vulnerable and hate playing on Killie's plastic pitch. The hosts will try and bully the Dons and are crying out to be backed here.
The Dons have not kept a clean sheet away since August and they are leaking goals. Hibs looked like they could have scored with every attack at the weekend.
Kilmarnock are 13/10 with Boylesports to score two goals or more and that has to be backed too.
Aberdeen are certainly capable of scoring and the both teams to score and over 2.5 goals was up after just 35 minutes on Saturday – it could happen again in Ayrshire at 6/5 with Boylesports.
This Scottish Premiership match between Kilmarnock and Aberdeen will be played on Dec 26, 2024 and kick off at 15:00. Check below for our tipsters best Kilmarnock vs Aberdeen prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
