Dundee United manager Mixu Paatelainen insisted the “knife is on our throat” despite the club’s recent revival.
The Tangerines welcome Aberdeen to Tannadice this evening for the latest in a never-ending procession of crucial matches.
They go into the Dons clash with some decent momentum, having hammered Ross County 3-0 on Saturday to add to the previous weekend’s last-gasp success against Hearts.
United are well aware they still have it all to do if they are to avoid the drop.
Mind you, it won’t be a walk in the park for Aberdeen either, with the Pittodrie men realistically having to pick up maximum points to keep themselves close to leaders Celtic.
Paatelainen, though, was right to stress that his team’s need is the greater, given that their very survival in the top flight in on the line.
He said: “I don’t know how much pressure Aberdeen will feel.
“They have fallen a little bit behind Celtic and they are eager to get three points and to get closer to Celtic again.
“I don’t know if it’s a good time to play them because they have had a fantastic season already.
“I feel our need to win is greater than theirs – absolutely.
“The knife is on our throat.
“We want to make sure we respond to that and so far we have responded well to that pressure.
“Many teams would have crumbled but we have shown mental toughness.
“We have shown we can handle the pressure.
“I always hoped it would improve because there’s no point performing reasonably well if you don’t get results.
“Hopefully, we can keep that improvement going.”
Paatelainen also admitted that the dreadful home loss to Motherwell that preceded the wins over the Jam Tarts and Staggies is still hanging around to remind the players how it can all go belly-up if they aren’t on their game.
He added: “In recent weeks have been very good but the Motherwell was a great example of how it can go very wrong if we are not at 100%.
“We enjoy the victories when they come but we realise it can change so easily.
“I hope that Motherwell game remains in the back of the minds of the players because if they are not on it then it could easily go like that again.
“We’ve had a few chats and the players have realised what is needed.
“Before Motherwell, we had been playing well. Results had been OK but that night was a hiccup.
“We can’t afford to do that.
“If our season from now on is up and down results, winning and losing, we don’t get anywhere. “