The United players did little to ease the pressure on gaffer Gordon Chisholm as Motherwell fought back to secure a 1-1 draw in a disappointing Bank of Scotland Premier League encounter.

Even the posiblity of poe faced Jim Jeffries taken over from Chisholm did little to ignite their will to win.

Jim McIntyre had given the Tannadice side a 68th-minute lead when he headed home a David Fernandez cross.

But Well striker Scott McDonald strengthened his claims for a call-up by World Cup-bound Australia with an equaliser three minutes later.

In the penultimate minute, United captain Paul Ritchie was dismissed for receiving his second booking when he clashed with David Clarkson.

The first clear-cut chance arrived as early as the second minute when Alan McCormack's cross from the right-hand side was met with a looping header from Jim Hamilton.

However, Derek Stillie was well positioned in the United goal and pushed the ball over his crossbar at the concession of a corner.

From the resultant set-piece, in-form Brian Kerr swung a dangerous centre into the area, which was nodded back across goal by Stephen Craigan and headed into the net by Brian McLean.

However, referee Mike McCurry adjudged Craigan had committed a foul on Lee Miller in order to win the ball and the goal was chalked off - with little protest from the visitors.

Collin Samuel then drove an effort just wide in the ninth minute, before McLean once again sent a header towards goal from a Kerr corner in the 17th minute.

However, Barry Robson was on hand to divert the defender's goalbound effort over the crossbar with a clearing header.

The match then turned into a scrappy battle and the next chance took a full 15 minutes to emanate.

McIntyre rose highest in the box to win Fernandez's clipped corner, but his header from 12 yards dropped on to the crossbar.

The home side were now in control and came within inches of opening the scoring five minutes before the interval.

Fernandez did brilliantly to wriggle past Corrigan on the by-line and rolled a low cross right across the face of an unguarded net.

However, there were no attackers on hand to knock the ball into the empty goal from only two yards out.

The second half began in a rather uninspiring fashion as both teams looked intent on not starting the remaining 45 minutes with the concession of a goal.

In the 54th minute Robson swung a dangerous cross towards the back post. Miller rose to head the ball towards goal from an acute angle and his effort struck Hamilton before going out of play.

There were faint appeals from the home support that the ball had made contact with the hand of the Motherwell skipper, but they were waved away by referee Mike McCurry.

United put a passing move together on the edge of the box and, when Miller fed the ball to Fernandez, his tantalising cross was headed into the net from six yards out by McIntyre in the 68th minute.

Motherwell responded immediately, though, and, when Kerr touched a free-kick to Corrigan, he clipped an effort over Stillie and struck the top of his right-hand post.

Barely a minute after striking the woodwork, the Steelmen grabbed an equaliser.

Kerr's deep free-kick was headed on by McLean and found its way to Richie Foran who was lurking on the by-line, just at the edge of the six yard box.

The midfielder lofted a ball right across the face of the United goal and McDonald headed the ball over the line from barely a yard out.

Ten minutes from time Robson sent a curving effort from 25 yards just over before, in the 89th minute, Ritchie received his marching orders for clashing with Clarkson. 

Dundee Utd: Stillie, McCracken, Ritchie, Archibald, Wilson, Kerr, McIntyre, Robson, Samuel, Miller, Fernandez (Duff 90). Subs Not Used: Samson, McInnes, Kenneth, Robertson, Cameron, Goodwillie. Sent Off: Ritchie (90).

Booked: Ritchie, Robson. Goal: McIntyre 68.

Motherwell: Graeme Smith, Corrigan, McLean, Craigan, Paul Quinn, McCormack, Fagan, Kerr, Foran, Hamilton, Scott McDonald (Clarkson 84). Subs Not Used: Meldrum, Steve McDonald, Fitzpatrick, Connolly, Coakley, Darren Lee Smith.

Booked: McCormack. Goal: Scott McDonald 71.

Att: 6,305

Ref: M McCurry