The pressure on Aberdeen manager Jim Goodwin has grown after a humiliating 1-0 Scottish Cup defeat for the Dons by Junior side Darvel at Recreation Park.
The West of Scotland League Premier Division champions took the lead in the 19th minute of the fourth-round tie through a deflected strike by Jordan Kirkpatrick, who was part of Goodwin's Alloa Athletic side that won promotion to the Championship in 2018.
An anxious Aberdeen side were denied at least three times by keeper Chris Truesdale in the second half but Darvel, from the sixth tier of Scottish football, offered much more than grit and determination to see the game out for a famous victory in the biggest night in their history.
Pressure had piled on Waterford native Goodwin - a former Republic of Ireland international who became Aberdeen manager last February after three years in charge of St Mirren - after the 5-0 defeat by Hearts at Tynecastle last Wednesday night and Monday's result only added to that.
Darvel boss Mick Kennedy wanted to take advantage of any Aberdeen fragility and his side certainly did that and now face Falkirk at home in the fifth round.
Asked where this result leaves him, Dons boss Goodwin told BBC Scotland: "Extremely disappointed, embarrassed, humiliated. All of those things really. We have a bit of assessing to do tonight that's for sure."
When asked if he had time to chat with Pittodrie chairman Dave Cormack, who was at the game, he replied: "No I've not spoken to him, I was in the dressing room speaking to the players."
But he also remained defiant and insisted that he was the man to turn Aberdeen's fortunes around.
"I do believe I can turn it around, absolutely. I have confidence in the squad we have got here. We are going through a very difficult period at the moment," he said.
"We are on a poor run of form, but we have to stick together and we have to keep fighting, work hard and put on a good display at Easter Road (against Hibernian) on Saturday.
"The last two results have been extremely disappointing. To concede five against Hearts and then to come here and get turned over by a junior team is embarrassing and humiliating for everyone connected to the club and we can only apologise.
"I speak on behalf of everyone, the staff and the players. and we are extremely embarrassed by what happened tonight, although I think that is a bit disrespectful of Darvel.
"As a manager, especially a manager of a club the size of Aberdeen, you need to win games of football and our form since the return from the World Cup break hasn't been good enough and tonight is an extremely difficult result for me to take.
"A really poor performance that lacked any urgency and any creativity at the top end of the pitch.
"We will need to do a bit of assessing later on and speak to who we need to speak to tomorrow. We will have a meeting with the players and make sure we come out fighting at Easter Road, it is as simple as that."
