Neil McCann embracing pressure from Kilmarnock fans to win derby against Ayr

Neil McCann has assured Kilmarnock fans he and his players share their determination to beat Ayr as he prepares to sample another of Scotland’s top derbies.

The former Dundee, Hearts and Rangers winger has experienced Scotland’s three city derbies and will now experience the Ayrshire version in front of an anticipated crowd of about 10,000 in the Premier Sports Cup second round at Rugby Park on Friday night.

Reflecting on his derby experience, McCann said: “If you connect with the club that you’re with, you feel the pain when it doesn’t go well. I’ve experienced both. The highs are very high, the lows are very low.

“I want the players to feel what we’re getting from the Kilmarnock fans going into this game.

“I was at a game on Tuesday night and I was getting fans stopping me saying they didn’t care if we didn’t win another game – I was quite taken aback and I get it – We’ve just got to win the derby, beat them on Friday night’.

“I tend to remove myself from that isolation, I’ve got to look at the bigger picture. But I get it. I completely get it. The boys get it as well.”

McCann has boyhood Killie fans such as Greg Kiltie and Rory McKenzie in his squad to help spread that understanding.

“It’s really nice to have one or two in the dressing room that have that connection by coming through at a young age,” said McCann, who goes head-to-head with former Hearts and Scotland team-mate Gary Naysmith in the opposite dugout.

“Kilmarnock players will be right up for this. We know what it means to the fans but it means the same to us.

“My job, and all the staff’s job, is to make sure that they remember that when they’re leaving the dressing room.”

As well as being one of the few players to experience Edinburgh, Dundee and Glasgow derbies, McCann also featured for Southampton against Portsmouth in the Premier League.

“Every derby, I respect what it means to both sets of fans,” said the 52-year-old, who has defender Robbie Deas back from suspension.

“Glasgow, Dundee, Edinburgh, South Coast. It’s just the same. It’s the same passion, it’s the same elation, it’s the same pain you’re going to feel, depending on what side of the result you’re on.

“Look, my job as a manager is to prepare us, give us a tactical plan that I believe is good enough to beat Ayr United. Then they’ve got to reach inside and do the job and perform.

“If we perform like I know we can perform, we’ll win the game. It’s as simple as that. If we don’t, we won’t win the game. That’s sport, and that’s the level we’re operating in now. Lots of teams within the Championship are showing they’re good sides.

“We’ll give them every respect. They’ve started the season very, very well. Gary’s proved again that he’s a very capable manager. He’s put together a really good squad.”