Aberdeen fans have seen this script too many times.
It is now nine games without a win for Stephen Glass’ side and four straight league defeats as Celtic left Pittodrie with all three points.
Aberdeen can point to a much improved second half but it does not change the fact when it comes to the respective penalty boxes the Dons are continuing to come up short.
Celtic became the latest team to end a horrible run as they gained their first away win since Valentine’s Day thanks to Jota’s late winner.
For the Dons, they are slowing slipping down the Premiership table at the worst possible time with no amount of personnel or formation tweaks bringing any change in Aberdeen’s fortunes.
After eight games Aberdeen are having the worst run in a decade and are ninth in the Premiership. It’s not good enough no matter how you look at it.
Glass made a change in goal for the visit of the Hoops with Gary Woods given the nod ahead of Joe Lewis.
It was perhaps not unexpected given his form in recent weeks but was still a big call to bench Lewis give his big game experience and status at the club. We are talking about the club captain after all.
With one clean sheet so far this season the Dons boss had to try something but the change of goalkeeper had no positive effect on the poor defending which has been the hallmark of Aberdeen’s season so far.
The Dons were given a warning in the ninth minute when Nir Bitton failed to capitalise on being given a free header and two minutes later Aberdeen had conceded the opening goal for the eighth game in a row.
The defending was atrocious with Jack Mackenzie conceding a throw-in before being isolated on a two against one situation as David Turnbull took the throw before receiving the return pass from Liel Abada.
He cruised past Mackenzie with ease before crossing to the back post where David Bates seemed to misjudge the flight of the ball which allowed Kyogo Furuhashi to run in and chest the ball into the net.
Sadly, and not for the first time this season, it was a goal which could and should have been avoided.
For the visitors who had not won away since February it was just the start they craved and the confidence surged through Ange Postecoglou’s side as they took control of proceedings at Pittodrie.
There were flashes of attacking intent from Austin Samuels while Christian Ramirez saw his appeal for a penalty waved away by referee Bobby Madden but the majority of the pressure came from the visitors with left back Mackenzie the target for much of their attacking play.
The only other clear chances of note, however, came in the closing minutes before the break as both sides hit the woodwork.
For Celtic, there was frustration at not making their superiority count. For the Dons it was a glimmer of hope after a tepid, timid opening 45 minutes.
To the delight of the home support Aberdeen’s sense of urgency continued in the seconds brought a 56th minute equaliser as Lewis Ferguson’s looping header from Calvin Ramsay’s corner brought the home side level.
Aberdeen, energised by their equaliser, went in search of a second goal but a powerful drive from Jonny Hayes, which Hart saved, was as close as the Dons got to getting their noses in front.
For all their attacking efforts, however, they committed the cardinal sin of leaving the door open at the back.
Even when allowing for the fact this Celtic team is far from a well-oiled machine it was an invitation which the visitors gleefully accepted in the 84th minute.
A sweeping passing move cut through the Aberdeen backline with Tom Rogic’s defence-splitting pass sending Adam Montgomery clear in the box and his cross was converted by Jota.
An away win at last for Celtic. With Celtic’s two goals coming from their only two attempts on target it was more of the same for Aberdeen.