Aberdeen failed to take all three points as Motherwell fought back at Pittodrie.
The Dons opened in lively fashion and with five minutes gone a good passage of play between Darren Mackie and Derek Young saw the latterÂ’s header test Francois Dubourdeau low down to his left.
The home side continued to impress when Derek YoungÂ’s thunderbolt effort was brilliantly parried over at the expense of a corner.
On 11 minutes a careless play by Phil McGuire when attempting to clear the ball, presented Motherwell with an unlikely chance to take the lead but Dirk Lehmann blazed the ball over.
The Dons rearguard was stretched in 14 minutes when Steve Ferguson drove into the area, however under pressure from Jamie McAllister he could'nt keep his shot on target.
Aberdeen passed up the best chance of the game so far, Derek Young picked out McAllister's forward run, he took the ball to the byline before clipping in a great cross which Laurent D'Jaffo could only power wide of goal.
The Dons got the all-important opener after 30 minutes when Eric Deloumeaux picked out a well-timed Derek Young run which sprung the offside trap, the midfielder drew the keeper before slipping the ball home.
Back came the visitors when Ferguson should have done better than shoot into the hands of David Preece.
The Dons had a major let-off after 33 minutes, Ferguson beat McAllister to Scott LeitchÂ’s throughball, his cross was met by Lehmann, whose header was somehow cleared of the line by Phil McGuire with Preece beaten.
WellÂ’s star striker James McFadden could have brought his side level on 55 minutes when Russell Anderson missed Paul Quinn's long clearance out of defence, but with McGuire quickly closing him down he screwed his drive just wide of goal.
The away side threatened again minutes later when Lehmann headed narrowly passed from a Derek Adams corner.
Motherwell finally got the goal their enterprises second-half play deserved when William Kinniburgh shot low past Preece following a Steve Hammell corner which the Dons defence failed to clear.
The nearest the Dons came to scoring in the second half was when Mackie moved on to a Darren Young lay-off, but his shot was comfortably saved by Dubourdeau.
As the game petered out tamely Kevin Rutkiewicz collided with Shaun Fagen near the standside touchline and to the amazement of almost everyone inside the ground, the Dons player was sensationally ordered off for his second yellow card.