Darren Smith came off the bench to rescue a point for Motherwell with a 1-1 draw with Aberdeen, who were denied a badly-needed home victory.The young forward's goal could prove crucial at the end of the season as Mark McGhee's side bid to finish third in the SPL.

But Motherwell were not at their best at Pittodrie where Aberdeen took the lead in the 28th minute when Zander Diamond struck with a powerful header from Jeffrey de Visscher's corner.

The goalscorer later gifted Motherwell a great opportunity to get back on level terms after his foul on Chris Porter resulted in a penalty.

Porter's 80th-minute spot-kick was brilliantly saved by Derek Soutar, yet Aberdeen could not hold their advantage as Smith netted with a fine drive to snatch a share of the spoils for Motherwell.

In the early stages Aberdeen's play befitted their status as a team who had lost five league games in a row.

They were disjointed and did little to impress those in the lowest attendance to take in a league match at Pittodrie this season - 8,240.

Nevertheless Aberdeen grew in confidence and slowly started to make an impact in attack, although it took until the 17th minute for the first significant shot to be unleashed at goal when Barry Nicholson fired wide from distance.

Scott Severin then saw a blast across goal cleared by Paul Quinn, while for Motherwell Porter should have done far better after cutting inside from the left flank.

With the goal in his sights, he shot over the crossbar from just inside the Aberdeen penalty area.

The first half proved to be a grim affair, but there was one highlight for the home side as Diamond rose to power a header from De Visscher's accurately measured corner into the top of the Motherwell goal.

Aberdeen tried to build on their advantage when Steve Lovell burst into the Motherwell 18-yard box.

Regular substitute Lovell was starting a match for the first time since January 22, but failed to take the chance to impress as his low cross was cut out by the ever alert Mark Reynolds.

One of Aberdeen's best attacking outlets during the opening period had been full-back Alan Maybury, who whipped in several dangerous crosses from the right flank.

With three two minutes remaining before the interval a neat pass from De Visscher once again sent Maybury racing forwards and the former Hearts player provided another good centre which was flicked just over by the head of Nicholson.

Buoyed by an encouraging performance during the opening 45 minutes, Aberdeen began the second half in positive style Graeme Smith acrobatically pushing away a thumping drive from Maybury.

Motherwell then came into the game as an attacking force and wasted a good chance to get back on level terms when David Clarkson nudged a shot over from close range after meeting a header from Keith Lasley.

That was the catalyst for a previously flat game springing into life and Nicholson was only prevented from turning in De Visscher's cross by brave goalkeeping from Smith.

If the midfielder had scored, Aberdeen would have secured the victory, but as it was the Pittodrie club allowed Motherwell to escape with a point.

Porter was denied from the spot, but Soutar was helpless when substitute Smith pounced on a clearance from Lee Miller to lash a shot into the net from 20 yards out.

Nicholson was then thwarted again by Graeme Smith, while Soutar produced another fantastic save in injury-time to prevent a deflected Steven Hammell free-kick from finding a way to goal.

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