STUART McCALL is not inclined to complain about the prospect of his side playing in successive Friday night games.

Journeys to face first Aberdeen tonight and then St Johnstone in a week's time will probably mean that the Motherwell manager does not get to bed until late but there has been little sign of resentment. He would expect to be up anyway.

Nights at home have been spent tossing and turning over a series of uncomfortable results this season, with Motherwell now lying restlessly just three points off the bottom of the league table. The campaign is still only three months old and already the Fir Park side have been knocked out in both the Europa League qualifying rounds and third round of the League Cup, the latter leading to a run of three league defeats during which Motherwell have conceded 10 goals. McCall might be forgiven for instructing the driver of the team bus tonight to pull into the penalty area and pull on the handbrake.

The manager's waking hours yesterday were occupied more by routine, although he did spend some time in the company of two respected managers from English football. McCall does not have to look far for advice - both he and Gordon Strachan spoke briefly about Motherwell's timid start to the campaign during the international break earlier this month - and he was treated to more words of comfort after turning on the telly in his office at Fir Park. McCall stuck on the Champions League highlights from the night before and heard the managers of Arsenal and Liverpool take it in turns to discuss how the season was affecting their sides.

"I was just listening there to Arsene Wenger and Brendan Rodgers both talk about confidence," added McCall, whose side have won only two league matches this season, their most recent coming away to Ross County on September 13.

"It doesn't boil down solely to that - we're not playing well at the moment - but a lot of life, a lot of sports, come down to confidence. I spoke yesterday about golf or snooker players and when they miss an easy putt or an easy pot, and football players are very similar.

"As a manager you need to show your leadership and not be skulking around, feeling sorry for yourself. Obviously it's difficult when you're going through periods like this - you're sleeping less and the missus wants you out of the house because you're a pain. It does all go through your head."

The image of Motherwell anchored in the lower reaches of the table might appear more stark given how they have sailed through previous campaigns; second-place finishes were secured in the last two years and third place claimed before that.

There have been sojourns in European football, too, including illustrious qualifying ties against Panathinaikos and Levante. Poor results will always breed discontent among supporters and there have been instances of chuntering during this meek, uncomfortable start to the new season.

There are few at Fir Park agitating openly for their manager to be removed, though, albeit McCall acknowledges that "this is a results business" which will not allow him to rely on his previous record to shield him from a harsher reality.

Motherwell are without both Paul Lawson - who has resumed training again following injury - and Adam Cummins, leaving gaps to be filled in both defence and midfield.

Craig Reid has performed in either area of the team since first signing at Fir Park midway through last season, scoring from a central role on his last trip to Pittodrie. That dramatic goal secured a place in the Europa League for his side but his experiences since then have been far less enjoyable.

"We've had injuries but they are not the only reason for the position we have found ourselves in," said the 28-year-old. "We're where we are for a reason - we haven't met the standards that we've set for ourselves."

Craig is entitled to bemoan such faltering performances, but that is something his manager will not want to lose any more sleep over.