Motherwell paid the penalty for not taking their chances as they were held to a goal-less draw by managerless Dundee United.
In form striker Kevin van Veen had a spot-kick saved in the first half, hit the crossbar and saw a late goal-bound effort turned round the post in a dominant display from the Steelmen that, somehow, didn't see them come away with all three points.
United had lost an eye-watering 23 goals in their last four league outings, but Motherwell couldn't find their way past their defence under the stewardship of interim boss Liam Fox.
It stemmed a run of four straight league defeats for the Tangerines, while the Steven Hammell's Steelmen have picked up just a point from their last two league outings, leaving them fifth in the table.
There was no place in the squad for new signing Louis Moult as the striker still needs to build his match fitness, but he was given a heroes' reception when he was presented to the Fir Park crowd just before kick-off.
And with Moult still not up to speed, that meant Motherwell went with the same side that beat Inverness 4-0 in the Premier Sports Cup during midweek.
Ex-Well striker Tony Watt started for the managerless visitors alongside former Scotland international Steven Fletcher.
United didn't have their troubles to seek heading into this one, going in off the back of a 9-0 annihilation at the hands of Celtic in their last league outing, which cost Jack Ross his job as boss.
United picked up an early booking when Charlie Mulgrew tripped Ross Tierney in the second minute of the match. That presented Wednesday night's hat-trick hero Kevin van Veen with a great opportunity 25-yards from goal, but his effort went straight into the wall and the visitors cleared the danger.
Moments later Jo Efford skinned Dylan Levitt on the right wing and burst into the box but his cross cum shot was parried away by Carljohan Eriksson.
The Steelmen kept up the early pressure and Blair Spittal really should have done better when he latched onto a ball over the top from Sean Goss and honed in goal, only to to stroke a meek strike into the grateful arms of Eriksson.
It took United 15 minutes to create their first real opening when Levitt got to the byeline and hung the ball up for Fletcher, who glanced a header wide of Liam Kelly's far post.
Referee Craig Napier had a decision to make in 18 minutes when van Veen got onto a long ball in the box and seemed to poked it past Eriksson before going down, but the whistler waved away claims for a penalty.
United had a huge opportunity to take the lead in the 27th minute when Fletcher's header forced Kelly into a great stop. Mulgrew managed to dig out the rebound at the near post, firing the ball across the face of goal, before being cleared for a corner by Paul McGinn.
As opportunities go, they don't get much clearer than from the penalty spot - and Motherwell spurned one in the 34th minute in a dramatic passage of play.
First, McGinn did superbly to create space for a shot on the edge of the box and his curling strike was heading for the top corner before Ryan Edwards headed his effort off the line. From his clearance, the ball broke out to Goss and Edwards blocked the cross was his arm, leaving Napier with an easy decision to poiint to the spot.
But van Veen - who netted twice from the spot in midweek - saw his penalty superbly saved by Eriksson, who stetched out to his right to palm away a powerful effort.
There was more agony for van Veen in the final minute of the half as a delightfully judged through ball from Tierney picked him out in the box, and the Dutchman's venomous strike rattled off the crossbar.
Early in the second half Watt, who was routinely booed by the home support having ditched 'Well for Dundee United midway through last season, spurned an opportunity to give the visitors the lead when ref Napier gave United the advantage after Callum Slattery had tripped Ian Harkes.
A hesitant Watt fired at goal but when his effort was blocked, Napier inexplicably pulled play back for the free-kick.
That enraged Hammell and he was booked for his protests, having also given fourth official Peter Stuart a steely stare and a few choice words.
Moments later, the biggest cheer of the afternoon so far went up as the ineffective Watt was replaced by Glenn Middleton.
The Fir Park faithful were nearly silenced quickly when a Fletcher strike deflected narrowly past Kelly's goal, as United let their hosts know they were still very much a threat.
Efford twice came close to finding the opener in the 66th minute, first seeing an effort from van Veen's cutback snuffed out six-yards from goal, then failing to get a clean enough connection on Goss' tantalising delivery across the face of goal.
In the 74th minute, Hammell turned to his bench for the first time with a double substitution, introducing new signings Rolando Aarons and Stuart McKinstry for Efford and Tierney.
And six minutes later McKinstry made his first real impact when a driven cross was turned onto the roof of the net by Edwards as 'Well pushed for a winner.
McKinstry was again involved in 84 minutes when his effort in the box came to the feet of van Veen, who looked destined to score until an incredible bit of last-ditch defending by Edwards turned the effort round the post.
Motherwell almost lost it late on but Liam Smith's goalbound effort deflected wide.
The Steelmen now travel to the Highlands next week when they face Ross County.
MOTHERWELL: Kelly, Sondre Johansen, Penney, Lamie, McGinn, Slattery, Tierney (Aarons 74), Goss, Spittal, (Shields 85) van Veen, Efford (McKinstry 74).
Scorers:
Bookings: Slattery, McGinn
Subs not used: Oxborough, Mugabi, Maguire, O'Donnell, Cornelius, Ross.
DUNDEE UNITED: Eriksson, Graham, Smith, Edwards, Mulgrew, Behich, Harkes, McGrath, Levitt (Sibbald 74), Fletcher, Watt (Middleton 61).
Scorers:
Bookings: Mulgrew
Subs not used: Newman, Freeman, McMann, Cudjoe, Meekinson, Niskanen, Anaku.
Ref: Craig Napier
HT: 0-0
Att: 5,783
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