Aberdeen's players did caretaker manager Gardner Speirs' chances of being handed the manager's job on a permanent basis no good whatsoever after they produced another below-par performance during the draw with Motherwell.

Speirs has been handed the reins until a successor to Ebbe Skovdahl is found, but has expressed an interest in the job himself.

A 30th-minute strike from Derek Young looked to have given him the perfect start to his managerial career, but a second half equaliser from William Kinniburgh pulled Motherwell back into the game.

Both sides struggled to gain the upper hand in the closing stages and play degenerated into a stuffy midfield battle.

Dons defender Kevin Rutkiewicz compounded Speirs' misery when he was sent off with six minutes left for a cynical foul on Sean Fagan.

Aberdeen started brightly and carved open a chance after only five minutes.

Darren Mackie gathered the ball midway in the Motherwell half, fed Young out wide on the left and rushed into the box.

Young steadied himself and picked out his team-mate with a cross, but his header was weak and flew into the arms of Francois Dubourdeau.

Young was unlucky not to have scored three minutes later when his powerful shot was palmed away by the Well goalkeeper.

He stepped inside Scott Leitch on the edge of the area and fired in a rising drive, but Dubourdeau managed to get a hand to it and knock it over the crossbar.

Motherwell had to wait until the 10th minute for their first chance of the game and it was handed to them on a plate by Dons defender Jamie McAllister.

His slip inside the area allowed Dirk Lehmann the opportunity to shoot from 16 yards, but he leaned too far back and ballooned his effort high over the bar.

The home side grabbed the lead after 29 minutes when Derek Young capitalised on a mix-up between Mackie and Paul Quinn.

The two players tangled, allowing Young to break through on goal. The Dons midfielder walked into the penalty area, waited for Dubourdeau to make a move and slotted the ball past him.

McAllister almost set up Motherwell once again when he made another mistake out on the left touchline.

He went to clear a mis-placed Lehmann pass and overestimated the amount of time and space he had on the ball, lazily knocking it back to Preece. The Dons goalkeeper had to be alert and rush from his area to clear.

Dons caretaker Speirs substituted McAllister at half-time after his inept first half showing and he was replaced by Kevin McNaughton.

The visitors equalised after 59 minutes and it was another mistake from an Aberdeen player that allowed them the chance to score.

Steven Hammell whipped a corner into a packed penalty area looking for Lehmann's head.

Preece came off his line and attempted a punch but did not connect fully with the ball and it dropped to Kinniburgh, who was standing six yards out.

The youngster lashed the ball home for his first goal for the club.

Aberdeen had the opportunity tocapitalise on a goalkeeping error in the 83rd minute when a Rutkiewicz cross deceived Dubourdeau, causing him to drop the ball.

It bounced around in the area, but Motherwell were relieved to see Hammell clear.

Rutkiewicz was involved in an ugly incident a minute later that resulted in him being issued with his second yellow card of the match.

He scythed down Fagan on the touchline, prompting two Motherwell players to intervene.

A fracas ensued before the Dons player was sent off.

Teams:

Aberdeen: Preece, Rutkiewicz, Anderson, McGuire, McAllister (McNaughton 45), Tiernan, Deloumeaux, Darren Young, Derek Young, Mackie, D'Jaffo (Mike 60).

Subs Not Used: Esson, Michie, Billio.

Sent Off: Rutkiewicz (83).

Booked: Anderson, Rutkiewicz, Darren Young, Deloumeaux.

Goals: Derek Young 30.

Motherwell: Dubourdeau, Kinniburgh, Corrigan, Hammell, Fagan (McDonald 89), Adams, Leitch, Lehmann, Quinn, Ferguson (Clarkson 90), McFadden.

Subs Not Used: Woods, Sengewald, Russell.

Booked: Ferguson, McFadden, Fagan.

Goals: Kinniburgh 59.

Att: 9,569

Ref: C Thomson (Scotland).