'You really feel that belief' - Stanger hails boss McCann

George Stanger has praised Neil McCann's infectious belief that has helped push Kilmarnock to the brink of Premiership safety.

Killie were second bottom and on a 14-game winless run when McCann took charge in January, but now have a four-point cushion over 11th-place St Mirren with two games to play.

Before tonight's visit of Dundee, defender Stanger said: "He obviously came in when we were in a difficult period. And from the outset he was very big on belief, and that he believed in us as players and as a squad.

"From my perspective, with the conversations you have with him, you really do feel that belief. Sometimes when someone says something to you, you don't necessarily feel it but I do when he speaks to me, that's with everyone as well.

"We can really tell that he believes in us and that's obviously a big thing from the manager."

Stanger admits the pressure is off "a wee bit" after the 3-0 win over St Mirren last weekend, but says his side cannot afford to relax.

"I think we'd be lying if we said that it didn't feel like there was a wee bit of pressure off after the game on Saturday. Just with the magnitude of the game and obviously the split, every game feels like a six-pointer and that was definitely that," he said.

"We're fully focused on the Dundee game now and I don't care what goes on at Pittodrie [where St Mirren face Aberdeen]. That's something we can't control. All we can control is what we do and that's the key message for everyone in that changing room."