Aberdeen battered basement dwellers Livingston to end their run of six Scottish Premiership games without a win in a topsy-turvy game at Pittodrie that ended with both sides down to 10 men.

When the visitors did go ahead, they briefly lifted themselves off bottom spot. However, they were unable to come back after capitulating at the end of the first half and their own winless run now stretches to 23 games in all competitions.

Instead, the managerless Dons punished some apathetic Livingston defending to score six goals against a side who are increasingly looking doomed to relegation.

Aberdeen struck early through Kenan Bilalovic, and thought they had a second when Kevin Nisbet slotted home.

A lengthy VAR review concluded Nisbet was offside, although it was a decision made by referee Ross Hardie when called across to the screen after the lines could not be properly calibrated.

Aberdeen were unhappy, and they would be angrier a few minutes later when Livingston scored twice in three minutes to turn the game on its head.

Both goals came from long-free kicks the hosts failed to deal with. Mahamadou Susoho benefited from the first, tucking home when through on goal, and Robbie Muirhead got the second when Dimitar Mitov parried straight to him.

Pittodrie was stunned, but Aberdeen found a response before half-time. Teenage left-back Mitchel Frame, on his full debut, picked out Nisbet with an inch-perfect cross and the Dons striker slid in an equaliser.

Four minutes later – and into the 12th minute of first-half additional time – Aberdeen went ahead. It was similar to the second, a ball from the left that an unmarked Nisbet was able to tuck home from close range.

To add to the drama, Jack Milne and Livingston substitute Jeremy Bokila were both sent off in the second half for violent conduct after clashing at a throw-in, a fracas that ended in a 22-man shoving match.

Aberdeen found a fourth goal in the 75th minute, with Sivert Heltne Nilsen nodding in from a corner.

Topi Keskinen benefitted from appalling defending to score two late goals, adding gloss to the scoreline by repeatedly ghosting past tired Livingston legs and slotting past a helpless Jerome Prior.