MANAGER Lee Clark has urged his Kilmarnock team not to let the fear factor destroy their Ladbrokes Premiership survival mission.
The Rugby Park side will be doomed to the play-offs if they lose at Hamilton today and Partick Thistle pick up at least a point at home to Inverness.
But Clark, who will put his faith in young goalkeeper Conor Brennan after failing to have Jamie MacDonald’s one-game ban overturned, was refusing to contemplate that scenario.
Victory at New Douglas Park would draw Killie to within four points of Martin Canning’s team with three games to play.
And the former midfielder warned his players they must not let doubt enter their minds as they gear up for their biggest game of the season.
Asked if he had tried to motivate his men by spelling out the potential consequences of defeat this weekend, Clark shot back: “We will go there and win this weekend, so it means we won’t be consigned to the play-offs. We have realised what is at stake for many, many weeks.
“Every game is a huge game and that’s the way we approach it.
“But you can’t play if there is too much tension in your body. You can’t play to your abilities if you take too much pressure into the game. So we have to stick to the game plan, play the game and go for the win.”
Killie’s hopes of avoiding the drop were dealt a major blow last week when they were beaten 3-1 at Inverness. Kallum Higginbotham put them ahead but their performance came off the rails when MacDonald was sent off after Conrad Balatoni’s under-cooked pass-back forced the goalkeeper to bring down Ross Draper in the box.
After the match, Clark struggled to hide his anger over Balatoni’s “crazy” part in the penalty but he says his squad have brushed off that disappointment and are ready to take on Accies.
He said: “We had to pick the boys up after the weekend. We had to pick everybody up – myself included. It was a game where we shot ourselves in the foot.
“We were in control because we were in the lead. The opposition weren’t particularly hurting us. So of course Sunday evening and Monday morning were tough. Everybody has been in the same We all feel for each other. Obviously Conrad’s role has been highlighted because he made one or two errors but we all feel the losses together.
“Conrad is a good professional and a good guy. He is hurting. We’re all hurting. We’ve had a good group meeting and said we can’t affect the past, we can only affect the future. If we win it puts a little bit of pressure on Hamilton. It would be down to four points with nine to play for.”
Kilmarnock will be boosted by the return of midfielder Craig Slater after illness, while striker Josh Magennis could also feature if he can prove his fitness after an ankle injury. Hamilton hope to have Eamonn Brophy and Jesus Garcia Tena back after they missed the win over Dundee United with knocks.
Hamilton defender Lucas Tagliapietra feels manager Martin Canning’s consistent confidence in his players has been crucial in their recent improved form.
Hamilton can now guarantee their safety with a win over Kilmarnock at New Douglas Park on Saturday.
Tagliapietra said: “The manager has been great, he never changes and he passes that belief to us. He always gives us that belief.”
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