Aberdeen 1-1 Noah: Analysis as 'must win' game slips by

A "must win" game according to Jimmy Thelin, but again Aberdeen looked meek and muddled throughout a match that all but ended their hopes of European progression.

It's become harder and harder to identify a distinct style of play since Thelin and his team endured that horrendous run in the middle third of last season, a tailspin that they are still struggling to right.

In 48 games against Scottish top flight and European opposition, played over 90 minutes, they have won just nine times.

Perhaps it's no wonder that the confidence among Aberdeen players looks shot - despite the fact they're unbeaten in their past five games.

On that run though, and stretching back further to their previous eight, the Dons have scored just one goal or fewer in each game.

Their xG has been above one in just two of those games - against Hibernian and St Mirren.

The win that perhaps meant the most was the win over Hearts last Sunday, when they ended Derek McInnes' unbeaten run as gaffer and gave the league leaders' perch another wobble.

And yet, that victory came without their creative fulcrum Jesper Karlsson. Missing due to personal reasons, Aberdeen somehow still came out with a win thanks to Topi Keskinen's solo strike.

When Karlsson has been available, he's been the first name on the team sheet. His quality is clear to see. He's industrious, entertaining, capable of skill rarely seen in this division.

Yet the full responsibility of the attack has weighed heavy on his shoulders. Keskinen too often flits in and out of games, while Kevin Nisbet's strike against Noah was his first of the season.

Fans will wince at the sight of Conference League leaders Strasbourg and high-flying Sparta Prague on the horizon. While Thelin says he and his side will never give up, will always remain competitive, one worries they will be in for a similarly bruising night to they suffered in Athens.

The 6-0 demolition at the hands of AEK has left scars, exposing a team that wilt when the heads go down. They cannot suffer any repeats of that night.