KEITH LASLEY has reassured the Motherwell support that their three-week fixture holiday will not derail their Euro bid.

The postponement of the Steelmen's SPL fixture with Dundee United on Tuesday has meant that Well won't be in action again until February 9, with their last competitive outing coming back on January 20 in their 3-2 victory over St Johnstone.

When Motherwell suffered a similar frustration last October after a power cut caused their home game, ironically also against United, to be called off less than 30 minutes before kick-off, they lost their first two games back in action against both Edinburgh sides.

And with the Fir Park side currently third in the table and well in the mix to land a Europa League qualifying spot, club captain Lasley is determined not to let their spell out of action hinder their continental cause.

He said: "Despite the weather being the way it was, we could very much have done with the game going ahead.

"The last time we had a game cancelled late we were also due to play United and that Saturday, back at the start of October, we were actually in the tunnel ready to walk out on the pitch when the emergency generator was turned on and the game was called off.

"So I would say that of the two postponements that one was the more frustrating.

"For some reason there seems to be a problem when we are due to play United at Fir Park this season.

"But I think when we did get back in action last time we had been out for three weeks and we lost our first two games.

"So we will have to make sure that when we do come back at Killie, on February 9, that we aren't too rusty after our spell out.

"There are just 10 games left until the split and we can't afford to let this situation damage us."

While Well trained yesterday morning, gaffer Stuart McCall is making a bounce game for his men a priority.

But Las pointed to the winning resumption after the SPL winter break as proof that the Steelmen will not be left high and dry.

THE Motherwell skipper said: "You look at the St Johnstone game earlier this month and we hadn't played in almost three weeks and came back with a win.

"So we have enough about us to make sure this does not derail us and put a dent in our ambitions for European football.

"We are well-placed alongside Inverness on 37 points with two games less played than Hibs and Aberdeen and we are three points ahead of Pat Fenlon and his side.

"So the great thing for us is that we have the points on the board."

But there was no denying the Well skipper's frustration at the latest hiatus.

Las said: "It's hard for us. Particularly when it is a midweek game, you've completed all the preparation.

"The fact that the game was brought forward 24 hours is very frustrating and has had a big impact on us.

"But as we have seen we have been here before and we have just got to use that experience.

"Maybe we aren't playing before we go to Killie but they have two games to negotiate starting with last night's game at Celtic and then a Scottish Cup tie with Inverness.

"You just don't know how that will stretch them with injuries and suspensions. So there are two sides to every story."