'Annoyed' McInnes urges Killie players to 'fight and scrap but stay calm'

Derek McInnes has urged his players to “fight and scrap” in the next five games but also “stay calm” as they look to secure their place in the Premiership for another year.

The Rugby Park side is six points off bottom-placed St Johnstone in the automatic relegation spot and just one ahead of Dundee in the playoff position.

So, with five games left, they know they are in a battle for survival with the rest of the bottom half.

They take on Ross County at home this weekend in a game that could go a long way towards boosting their chances of top-flight football next season.

Speaking on Thursday, the manager said: “It’s an important match, which is understating things just a bit, the bottom half is as tight as it’s ever been.

“It’s important to give off the next run of fixtures with a victory at home.

“We are expecting it to be like cup tie football in the next five games, with every game more important than the last.

“We are going to have to fight and scrap, we aren’t just going to be handed three points, and that’s just the nature of the way the league is.

“We recognise the concern that is there, for every team in the bottom half, but it is up to us to stay calm.

“I am annoyed that we are in this situation, we’d rather not be in the bottom six, but the fact we are in it we have to be honest and say there isn’t a lot between the teams.

“But we still have the opportunity to deal with it.”