Neilson backs Pressley to complete Dundee turnaround with survival

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Steven Pressley will steer "solid" Dundee to Premiership survival, says former Hearts and Dundee United boss Robbie Neilson.

The Dens Park outfit, who travel to Tannadice for the derby on Sunday, are five points clear of second-bottom Kilmarnock and three above St Mirren with five post-split fixtures to play.

"Steven came in at the start of season, he would agree himself, he wasn't the popular choice, but he's turned that around amazingly," said Neilson on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"They've got a real solid group in there, goalscorers, good defenders, they're a solid team.

"The last time they went to Tannadice they won 1-0, so they'll have confidence going there.

"Steven is very, very experienced, he knows how to stay in these big games and win them.

"I think they'll be fine, they've got enough in their squad at both ends of the pitch to keep them in the league this year."

Stephen McGowan, football writer with The Herald, added: "Where are all those people who wanted Pressley hunted earlier in the season now? They've gone kind of quiet, haven't they?

"I remember going up to see him in Dundee and it was after a period when it was an open letter from supporters calling for the heads of John Nelms and Gordon Strachan and Presley.

"He went into a situation where I think he admitted himself he didn't necessarily know exactly what he was getting into.

"He faced this barrage of criticism before he did a day in the job really. But I think he's pretty much silenced that and okay, they're not absolutely out of the woods yet, but if they could get something out of the derby then once again he would have shown that the empty vessels were totally wrong about him."