MOTHERWELL have experienced the rise and the fall as they have gone from second top to second bottom in the Premiership.

After years of punching well above their weight, the Steelmen are on the ropes this term.

It is a situation many Fir Park fans feared would unfold after several seasons of lofty league finishes and European excursions.

The heat is now on boss Stuart McCall as he looks to rediscover the winning formula for a side that has taken just seven points from 10 Premiership outings.

And Lanarkshire legend Craig Paterson has backed the Well gaffer to find the answers to the problems that have plagued Motherwell in recent weeks.

He said: "Motherwell have over-performed massively in the last couple of years. To finish second and constantly qualify for Europe is quite incredible.

"There was always going to come a time when it becomes more and more difficult.

"For the first time, they are coming on hard times. Of course, the club will back Stuart because he has been terrific.

"You hear people asking if Stuart is under pressure but he has earned the right to have a bit of leeway in a situation like this.

"It is still early in the season but it is a concern because when you look at what they have done in recent years, it has been a major disappointment so far this year.

"There is a lack of goals in the team and they are conceding too many and when you have that combination you find yourself only three points clear of Ross County at the bottom."

Having shipped 10 goals in their last three games and scored just twice, it is clear Motherwell have issues at both ends of the park as the Steelmen misfire.

McCall has bemoaned his side's defensive failures in recent weeks as Partick Thistle, Hamilton and Dundee have found the route to goal too easy to negotiate.

And Scottish Cup-winning stopper Paterson knows the Steelmen must build from the back if they are to find their form again.

He said: "It is about trying to get a back five who are in tune with each other and playing a few games together. But that hasn't been possible a lot of the time with injuries and the temptation for a manager is to make changes and look for someone to come in and make an impact.

"I think he will be disappointed that the people that have come in haven't staked their claim for a regular place and Stuart is still looking for the answers at the back.

"In a run like this, confidence can dip ,but they have got experienced players there and they will come through it.

"I'm not sure if Motherwell would be able to look at free agents to come in and do a job or if it is just a matter of getting the players that did it last year for them playing at that level again."

The road to recovery and to former glories is likely to be a long one for Motherwell this season as they look to haul themselves back up the top flight standings.

Just months after winning at Pittodrie to claim second place last term, the Steelmen return to the north-east tomorrow night in desperate need of a victory for a far different reason.

BBC Scotland pundit Paterson said: "When you look at the squad and what they have produced, you know it is there but they need to find some form.

"They don't want to be down there too long because it can turn into a season-long battle against relegation.

"Motherwell need to get their foot on the gas right about now and get back into the challenge to get back into the top half.

"It can just take one good performance and result to kick the whole thing off."