Motherwell No.2 Keith Lasley admits it's a blow to see Callum Lang return to parent club Wigan in January but believes some new faces at Fir Park can help them build on a positive point against Aberdeen.
The Steelmen ended a run of four straight defeats with a goalless stalemate at home to the Dons, who kept the club's joint-top scorer with three goals this season at bay.
But even although Lang is being recalled from his season-long loan deal, Lasley says the club have put the building blocks in place to turn their slump around after tonight's display and could welcome a couple of new players when the transfer window opens in January.
Lasley said: "It's disappointing that Callum Lang has to go back.
"That's Wigan's call on that, we can't control that unfortunately.
"He's available for the next couple [against Dundee United on Boxing Day and Kilmarnock on December 30] and then he has to go back after that.
"I'll let the manager talk about specifics, but I'm certainly hoping there will be some movement in the window.
"It's a difficult time, it's a difficult market place, but if there's quality we can add, we'll try and do that.
"Sometimes a new face or two can add to the spark you need to start to turn things around and push in the right direction."It was good to get a point tonight against a good side, on a good run so there's plenty of positives for us to take.
"There's no doubt we've been on a tricky run but to get a point with a dogged, hungry display there's a lot to take into this busy period.
"That forward area will come, we still feel belief in the squad that we've got and with the possibility of one or two additions in the January transfer window.
"As quickly as you fall into a little run that's tricky, you can quickly come out of it with one big result and we still feel when we get that, that will be the case.
"Once you do get that win, history tells you, certainly from my experience, that one win becomes two or three in a row and your momentum can start building the other way."
There was little Christmas cheer for Motherwell fans as their side managed just one shot on target over the 90 miniutes, which saw them slip to sixth in the Premiership.
Liam Polworth's blocked effort in the box in the second half was as close as the Steelmen came to a goal, while the visitors came closest when Curtis Main's early header hit the crossbar.
However, Lasley is confident their strikers will come good eventually when the "fine margins" start going their way.
He added: "Lack of goals is a concern at any time, we know it's not quite been there, and in a lot of the games it's been fine margins.
"Even tonight, I think Liam Polworth's chance was maybe going in, it's come off a set of legs and it's inches away.
"They always seem to be falling on the wrong side of those fine margins at the moment.
"But, while that is happening, if you are solid at the other end, you've still got a chance of taking points.
"In this division it's easily done, there's such fine margins in all the games."We are still confident it can be a competitive season from us.
"We just need that one win to turn things around.
"Tonight was some good building blocks for that.
"You see the players Aberdeen have got in forward areas and they can hurt you.
"They cause most teams problems, including the Old Firm, so that solidity was good.
"If we are going to turn things around, it's not going to be just about getting back to scoring goals, it's going to be about being solid and giving us a platform in games.
"I thought we did that tonight. The final bit wasn't there in the final third. There was a couple of close things but, against a good side, we take positives from the defensive performance."
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