McKinnon happy to pile pressure on United players

to play in a similar manner to the way we did at Tannadice.

“The last two games have been highpressure and we’ve performed really well. But for a couple of breaks on Thursday night we would have won.

“So we have to be positive and believe we can win the game at home.”

McKinnon, meanwhile, needs one last push from a side who have had to make it through five pressure-packed games to get to their final reckoning. He said: “They’ve had to battle on Thursday night and we go to Hamilton thinking we have a great chance of promotion. The players have to believe that, even if we go down there as underdogs.

“There’s a real desire to win and we have never once talked about tiredness. They are as fit as can be and I think they feel that way too.

“Whether there is tiredness or not they don’t feel it mentally. I spoke to Cammy Bell about what Rangers did a couple of years ago and they were in every day. I think groundhog day set in.

“We’ve done it a bit differently, giving them a couple of days off and I think that has really helped them.

“They will be ready to go on Sunday and I think there’s a real motivation to get promotion.

“There’s also an injustice there after Simon Murray was sent off. Anything you can use to motivate yourself is good. But I will be using the way they have played, their strength, desire and fitness. That’s what I will focus on.

“It’s about praising them. It’s not about kicking them up the backside.

“We’re 90 minutes away from being back in the Premiership and that’s what we focus on. Hopefully we can get over the line.”