McCann on 'infuriating' early goals, Killie anger & survival bid

Kilmarnock boss Neil McCann has been speaking to the media as his side prepare for Saturday's visit of Dundee United.

Here are the main points:

• McCann admits "it was a strange dressing room" after the 1-0 defeat to Aberdeen last weekend because his side had "performed really, really well" despite conceding in the opening minute for the third successive away game.
• Although pleased with the performance, McCann stresses "if you don't take the chances and you don't get a bit of luck then you'll get nothing from the game".
• The Killie boss says it is "infuriating" to have lost to an early goal again, adding: "It was from a throw-in, a wicked deflection thrown into the mix as well. Other than that, Max Stryek had one proper save [to make] from a header. We've just got to turn that performance into points."
• The Rugby Park side have been working on their finishing after "not being clinical enough" at Pittodrie, where they hit the woodwork three times.
• There was "frustration and anger" among the squad after the defeat but McCann says: "I've never had to work hard in picking them up, I think they're believing in how they're playing. We're at the stage of the season where it's really important we don't let our confidence go."
• With Killie in the relegation play-off spot, McCann stresses survival is "completely down to us".
• He praised goalkeeper Max Stryjek, who made his comeback at Pittodire and has "had to be patient" in his return from heart surgery.
• Moldva winger Nicky Clescenco was "brilliant" on his first start for the club after taking time to adapt to Scottish football since signing in January. "I think he's really been caught unaware at the pace of our game here and that's no slight on him," says McCann. "But finally I just felt that he was due a chance to go and play and he was exceptional, he showed exactly what to bring on here in terms of the forward play."
• McCann insists Saturday's visitors won't "turn the engine off" despite being safe from relegation: "They're on the back of a really big derby win, I don't see any dip in Dundee United."