Shaughnessy feeling no extra pressure as relegation battle intensifies

Captain Joe Shaughnessy insists there's no extra pressure on the crucial trip to Kilmarnock this weekend as Dundee battle to remain in the top flight.

Tony Docherty's side sit just two points clear of Ross County, who occupy the Premiership play-off spot with three games remaining.

Despite that, and suffering a controversial defeat to Motherwell last time out, Shaughnessy insists the squad know what's required in the run-in.

"We know it's in our hands," Shaughnessy said. "We know we've got to put in the performances now to keep ourselves in the division.

"We've got the chance to really go and show that we deserve to be in this league next year.

"I don't feel like there's any more pressure now than there has been over the last few months.

"We've known we've been in a relegation battle for the last couple of months, really. So it's not like there's any extra pressure. It's just another game that you go and deal with.

"You go and deal with this weekend and then you move on to Wednesday and there's no point thinking 'What if I do this wrong? What if I make this mistake, all these bad things are going to happen.'

"It's just a game football that you've got to go and deal with and make sure you're on top come the end."

Opponents Kilmarnock have found form at a good time, with consecutive wins leaving them with the chance to secure their Premiership place against Dundee.

Victory for Dundee would leave them just a point behind Derek McInnes' side.

"At this stage of the season, the result is all that matters," added Irish defender Shaughnessy.

"Everyone would love to win pretty, but you've just got to win any way you can. You've got to get the results. We're ready to do that.

"They [Kilmarnock] put you under pressure and you've got to stand up to that.

"If you can't stand up to that, there's no point going to play Kilmarnock away if you're just going to lie down. You've got to fight that."