Dundee Utd will wonder how they failed to pick up three points from a match they dominated.
The home side opened the scoring after a mistake from Motherwell keeper Graeme Smith allowed Steven Robb in to score.
Well hit back quickly however, as Danny Murphy equalised with a curling free-kick from the edge of the box.
Motherwell were reduced to ten men when Paul Quinn saw a second yellow card late in the game but the home side failed to find a winner.
The home side made only one change, as Steven Robb came in for David Robertson, who dropped to the bench.
Motherwell made four changes from the side which lost at home to Hearts, with Stephen Craigan, Darren Smith, Brian Kerr and Ross McCormack all dropping out of the starting eleven.
Paul Quinn, Steven McGarry, Scott McDonald and Kevin McBride took their places in the side. Well had the better of a quiet opening spell, and Scott McDonald carved out the first clear chance of the game when he fired wide of the post from 30 yards.
The home side claimed for a penalty when Danny Murphy handballed, but the referee deemed the offence to have taken place just outside the post.
United failed to take advantage of the set-piece however as Lee Wilkie was caught offside as Barry Robson's cross came into the box.
Robson went closer with his next set-piece, as he fired a free-kick over from 35-yards.
The home side took the lead when Smith flapped at a header from Jon Daly and Robb headed home his first goal for United.
Motherwell were struggling, but were handed an opportunity when Kalvenes fouled David Clarkson at the edge of the box.
The visitors took full advantage as Murphy converted the set-piece to claim his first goal for the club.
Utd had the first real chance of the second half when David McCracken flashed a close-range header wide from a Robson cross.
Smith had to pull off a fine save from Noel Hunt, who shot from a tight angle after a good run.
Lee Wilkie headed just over from the resulting corner as Utd began to dominate the match, with Robson volleying wide minutes later.
Motherwell had a rare burst forward when ...ran through the home defence, beating McCracken twice, but shot straight at Derek Stillie in the Utd goal.
Barry Robson then delivered a terrific ball to the Motherwell back post, but Noel Hunt was unable to beat Smith with the header.
The home side were caught napping when Motherwell striker Scott McDonald seemed to spring the offside trap and ran on to score his 13th goal of the season.
However, despite initial celebrations from the Well players, after a discussion between the referee and his assistant the goal was disallowed.
Seconds later, McDonald again beat the offside trap, but this time the striker flashed the ball over the bar.
Motherwell then went down to ten men as Paul Quinn received a second yellow card for his part in a melee after Barry Robson went down in the Motherwell box.
At the death a goal-line clearance from Kenny Connolly denied John Daly what would have been his first goal for the Dundee club.
Despite having the man advantage the Terrors were unable to find the goal which would give them all three points.
Dundee Utd: Stillie, Dillon, McCracken, Wilkie, Kalvenes, Robson, Gomis (84 Easton), Kerr, Robb (45 Robertson), Daly, Hunt Subs Not Used: McLean, Mair, Goodwillie, Watson, McCord
Booked: McCracken, Kalvenes, Hunt
Motherwell: Smith, Quinn, Corrigan (Fitzpatrick), Reynolds, Murphy, McGarry, Vadocz, McBride, Paterson, Clarkson (81 Connolly), McDonald Subs Not Used: Martin, McCormack, Keegan, Molloy
Booked: Quinn, Clarkson
Sent off: Quinn
Att: 5183
Ref: D McDonald