Aberdeen finally had the kind of night when everything went right as the Scottish Premier League's bottom club were set up for an emphatic win by a Gordon Marshall howler.

Kilmarnock goalkeeper Marshall allowed an ambitious long-range effort from David Rowson to go through his legs at 1-1 just before the half-hour mark and from that point Aberdeen were always in charge.

The Dons, who had lost six of their last seven games since qualifying for the Scottish Cup final, moved ahead after only five minutes through Hicham Zerouali's hooked volley.

Kilmarnock defender Jim Lauchlan levelled with a 25th-minute header but Marshall's mistake was the platform for Aberdeen to seize control with an Eoin Jess effort right on half-time.

With no relegation at stake because of Falkirk's failure to meet SPL stadia criteria, this game had little at stake but did act as a chance for the Dons to silence talk of a crisis.

Aberdeen will take much from a vastly improved display compared to their poor form of recent weeks and made it 4-1 through a Thomas Solberg penalty on 75 minutes.

Sean Hessey was red-carded for his part in the spot-kick incident and its aftermath and by the end 10-man Kilmarnock were well beaten as for once the smiles at Pittodrie were among the home support.

Aberdeen rounded off matters in style in the 89th minute when substitute Robbie Winters scored from barely a yard out to offer the Dons their biggest win of an often miserable campaign.

Veteran keeper Jim Leighton was rested by manager Ebbe Skovdahl, placing a question mark over his Scottish Cup final place with youngster Ryan Esson earning a debut chance.

Zerouali missed a clear opening after just four minutes after Derek Young reached the byline on the right before producing a telling cross - but the Moroccan was to make amends moments later.

Derek Whyte's cross was headed into his path by Young and Zerouali produced an acrobatic volley which looped over a wrongfooted Marshall to put the Dons ahead.

Kilmarnock were forced into a sixth-minute substitution when captain Mark Reilly limped out of the action to be replaced by the experienced Ally Mitchell.

Aberdeen had to follow suit when Paul Bernard collected a head knock after ducking into an Ally Mitchell high kick, meaning Rowson joined the fray on 14 minutes.

Kilmarnock came close to an equaliser after 24 minutes when Gary Holt played in Tosh McKinlay and the former Celtic defender's cross was headed just wide at the near post by Paul Wright.

A minute later, though, the visitors did draw level in similar fashion when Holt's deep cross saw Lauchlan outjump Esson and direct a backheader into the net to make it 1-1.

On 29 minutes, however, Marshall's dreadful error allowed the Dons to regain their lead when a speculative shot from distance by Rowson slipped under his legs and into the net.

It was a woeful moment for Marshall and an out-of-character error from the normally reliable Kilmarnock keeper - and the surprise factor clearly hit his side badly.

Andy Smith was booked for clashing off-the-ball with Rachid Belabed before on the stroke of half-time Aberdeen extended their lead to 3-1 via a Jess tap-in.

Rowson's searching pass put Zerouali clear on the right and he chipped the ball over the advancing Marshall before sending a volley at goal which McKinlay could only half block.

The ball ran loose and Jess won the race ahead of Kilmarnock defender Hessey to reach it first and slip it into an empty net to leave the bottom club in control at the break.

Esson produced a solid stop two minutes after the restart to deny Wright's angled drive as Kilmarnock sought to set in motion an unlikely comeback.

Zerouali forced Marshall into a nervy save after 51 minutes, the keeper clutching the ball at the second attempt after another fumble on what was not proving to be his night.

Young went close with a driven effort for the Dons, while in response Smith unleashed a fierce strike on the turn which fizzed just over the bar with Esson well beaten.

The match had lost its earlier momentum and Kilmarnock tried to change matters with the introduction of youngster James Fowler and the fit-again McCoist as Aberdeen began to look comfortable.

Aberdeen sealed the contest in controversial manner with 15 minutes left when Hessey was ruled to have brought down Belabed in the area and, for a subsequent off the ball tangle, was red carded.

Referee John Rowbotham consulted with his assistant for some time before making both decisions and when the arguments had subsided Solberg slotted in the resulting penalty.

After 89 minutes Aberdeen stretched their advantage to 5-1 when Zerouali raced clear on the left and unselfishly squared the ball for substitute Robbie Winters to slide in from close range.

Teams:

Aberdeen: Esson, Lilley, Solberg, Whyte, McAllister, Bernard (Rowson 16), D. Young, Belabed, Dow (Winters 67), Jess, Zerouali.

Subs Not Used: Preece, Perry, Stavrum.

Booked: Rowson.

Goals: Zerouali 6, Rowson 30, Jess 45, Solberg 76 pen,

Winters 90.

Kilmarnock: Marshall, Canero, Hessey, Lauchlan, McKinlay, Reilly (Mitchell 6), Beesley (Fowler 61), Holt, Mahood, Wright, Smith (McCoist 64).

Subs Not Used: Meldrum, Burke.

Sent Off: Hessey (75).

Booked: Smith.

Goals: Lauchlan 25.

Ref: John Rowbotham (Scotland).