Aberdeen missed their chance to go back to third in the Bank of Scotland Premier League after a goalless draw with Motherwell at Fir Park.

The Dons had the best of an uninspiring first half but missed a couple of good chances through strikers Darren Mackie and Richard Foster.

There was little between the teams in the second period and almost no goalmouth incidents and a point apiece was all either side deserved.

The match began brightly enough and with barely 10 seconds gone Richie Foran headed Jim Paterson's cross over at the far post.

The Dons started slowly and had their first chance in the 18th minute when midfielder Kevin McNaughton ran the length of the park, exchanged passes with Mackie and forced Well goalkeeper Barry-John Corr into his first save.

Corr then kept out a Markus Heikkinen shot from 16 yards before Alexander Diamond headed Scott Morrison's corner from the right just over the crossbar.

Motherwell came close in the 25th minute when Kevin McBride's free-kick was touched on by striker Scott McDonald but the ball flew inches past Dons goalkeeper Ryan Esson's far post.

Aberdeen should have taken the lead three minutes later when Michael Hart's excellent cross found Mackie only 10 yards from goal but the Dons striker was stretching and headed over.

Motherwell then survived some intense pressure from the visitors which admittedly owed more to bluster than craft, although Corr's close-range save from Foster, after good work by Chris Clarke, was impressive.

The home side were dealt a blow two minutes after the restart when defender David Partridge had to be replaced by William Kinniburgh after injuring himself making a clearance.

Well also lost Jim Paterson to an injury in the first half but the players on the pitch started to show some extra determination and David Clarkson forced Esson into a mistake with a challenge inside the six-yard box, though ultimately it came to nothing.

Marc Fitzpatrick had a decent chance in the 62nd minute when he was set up by Clarkson but he went too far wide and his shot was easily gathered by Esson.

He wasted another opportunity five minutes later when Scott McDonald sent him clear. His hesitation before attempting to pass to Clarkson was all it needed for Dons defender Phil McGuire to block.

In the 75th minute Clarkson had half a chance when he turned on a Richie Foran cross from the right but his effort from 10 yards out went wide of Esson's left-hand post.

Right at the death McDonald could have grabbed the points for the home side but hit a weak shot from eight yards out straight at the grateful Esson. It was that kind of game.

Teams

Motherwell Corr, Corrigan, Hammell, Partridge (Kinniburgh 48), Craigan, Scott McDonald, Leitch, McBride, Paterson (Fitzpatrick 21), Clarkson, Foran.

Subs Not Used: Burns, Paul Quinn, Wright, Fagan, Ewings.

Booked: Leitch.

Aberdeen Esson, Hart, Morrison, Anderson, Diamond, McGuire (Muirhead 74), McNaughton, Heikkinen, Clark, Mackie (Adams 71), Foster (Craig 54).

Subs Not Used: Stewart, Considine, O'Leary, Blanchard.

Booked: Mackie, McNaughton, Morrison.

Att: 7,948

Ref: I Brines (Scotland).