Alfred Johansson's men have lost their last four games and are looking to end that run at Kilmarnock when they head to Rugby Park

Stephen O’Donnell has urged the Motherwell support to keep calm and together they will carry on back to winning ways in the Premiership.

The Steelmen are in something of a sticky patch after four defeats on the trot.

O’Donnell has been in that situation at Fir Park throughout the years and knows things can quickly turn.

He hopes that happens when Motherwell make the trip to his former club, Kilmarnock, this afternoon.

The experienced defender admitted: "No, I think you always want to aspire to be better and it's difficult.

"Like every club, when you sell good players, it becomes harder.

"We're fortunate Motherwell is a fan-owned club.

"But they need to understand that it's difficult and financially it's difficult to compete to sign players and get players.

"And then on the pitch, it's difficult as well. So it's trying to, as I said, remain calm as a club, which is fan-owned.

"So then that needs to relay back into the crowd.

"I know it's frustrating when we're not doing well.

"For me, it helps if the kids are up! But when the kids are in bed, I'm still thinking about our performance if it's been a bad one, or how I can be better.

"Hopefully, let's see if we can get a win on Saturday and that then starts to maybe shift the focus."

The former Scotland cap is well aware that Motherwell was miles off where they should have been and that is something that can’t be the case at Rugby Park. O’Donnell also holds his hands up and takes his share of the blame for the loss - it wasn’t how boss Alfred Johansson had set up.

“I think passive is a frustration because he actually wanted us to try and press,” O’Donnell insisted.

"But the problem is when they then beat your press, you then find yourself deep.

"We just didn't quite have the quality within the 90 minutes to really challenge them and really threaten them.

"Albeit, I did think there was a couple of spells where we had them deep, and I thought you felt we could get some chances.

"I felt like we could have scored. I think the second goal kills it, which is obviously a mistake from me.

"But on the other hand, I thought Celtic did look dangerous going forward and it could have been that they could have scored a few more as well."

Kilmarnock have changed to grass from their artificial surface. O’Donnell is hoping for a change of fortunes with Killie no longer having that advantage. He knows it gave Killie the edge from his own time at Rugby Park.

The current captain acknowledged: "Look, I think it always became a wee bit of that psychological one, if you could handle it and I got some good results at Kilmarnock.

"I also remember when I was first at Kilmarnock, nobody moaned about it when they were beating us every time.

"But whenever we started making it a hard place to come, the astro then became an excuse.

"I remember taking a few 5-0 defeats off Celtic before and nothing was ever then said about the pitch after the games!

"But look, I'm glad it's been moved to grass.

"I don't think there's an excuse. I don't think you can say it's the pitch's fault.

"People have played on Astro often enough anyway.

"But grass is my preferred surface, as I think 99% of players are.

"It's a nice big pitch, a nice stadium if the fans are behind the team.

"As I said, hopefully they won't be on Saturday. Hopefully we can go and play a good game and no excuses will be needed."

Motherwell welcome back Johnny Koutroumbis but are still without Paul McGinn, Oscar Priestman, Callum Hendry and Regan Charles-Cook will miss out.