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.

It wasn't all bad for Livingston manager David Martindale. He was sent off midway through the second half, so at least he got a seat and some respite from the conditions.

Before the game, he said he had seen "growth" in his side, that they were "on the right track".

That's a side that haven't won since August. That are 22 league games without a win - the worst run since the top flight was rebranded to the Premiership in 2013-14.

The track they are currently on heads only one way, and it is straight back down to the Championship.

They attempted 19 tackles, and were only successful in seven of them. Even at the top end, when Connor McLennan could have fired a shot at goal, he was second to the ball with Frame beating him to it, despite the Livingston player looking the favourite.

Of all the bruising defeats this season, this is the one that could floor Livingston. How on earth do they come back from it?

As for Aberdeen, it was a much-needed victory. After Jimmy Thelin's departure, the Dons had a tricky double-header against Rangers and lost both games.

Last week's win over Raith Rovers in the Scottish Cup was unconvincing, but the victory over Livingston was - mostly - far improved.

There is clearly a weakness when defending set-pieces that many clubs have exploited already this season.

But in attack, things clicked. Bilalovic was lively throughout the first half, while Nisbet looks to have regained some sharpness in front of goal.

Most wingers thrive on confidence and Keskinen is no different - with the wind in Aberdeen's sails, the Finn had one of his finest performances in red.

Aberdeen interim manager Peter Leven: "Really positive result, performance. Again, just switching off set-plays and just lost a wee bit of belief and mentality, in that spell. But overall, great performance.

"I challenged them last week against Raith. We had lots of chances to score. We worked on it in this week, implementing what I want, and again, we could have scored more."

Livingston manager David Martindale: "The full game was chaotic. It was just unorganised chaos at times. Defending was very, very poor, and I need to take accountability for that.

"I just thought the game was stop-start. VAR had a big part in the game today. I came out the beneficiary of that on a couple of occasions, so I'm not sitting here moaning about VAR.

"My actions shouldn't be a reflection on the club. The scoreline is unacceptable. It's unacceptable. We should not be losing six goals. And the buck stops with me. We should not be losing six goals. End of."

Aberdeen travel to Kilmarnock next Saturday, while Livingston host Motherwell at the same time (15:00).