It’s Europe or bust as far as Dundee United are concerned as they prepare to face Ross County in the Highlands tonight.
The Tangerines are sitting seven points behind Inverness, who are occupying the third European qualification spot.
With just four games of the season remaining, realistically there is no margin for error for Jackie McNamara’s side in Dingwall.
However, United’s Sean Dillon insists that the players are thriving under the pressure and are simply delighted to be in the top-six mix after puling off a great escape on the last Saturday before the split.
He said: “We didn’t think we were going to reach the top six at one stage but now we even have a chance to get into Europe, which is great. A lot of people didn’t see it coming a few weeks ago.
“There is a lot of pressure on us now but I would rather be playing in this sort of game than being stuck in the bottom six with nothing but pride to play for.
“Nobody really expected us to be in this position but the last kick of the ball for us against Aberdeen, combined with Dundee winning at Kilmarnock, got us into the top six and now that we have the chance, we have to ensure we take it.”
The last time United played the Staggies in Dingwall back in November, they came from behind to take all three points thanks to goals from Stuart Armstrong and Johnny Russell.
If they can replicate that result tonight and close the gap on Inverness to just four points, then Dillon believes that will heap the pressure on Terry Butcher’s side in their high-noon showdown with St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park on Saturday.
He said: “With playing on the Friday night, if we win, it could put pressure on other sides playing later in the weekend.
“We have been in that situation a few times this season where we’ve played on the Monday night knowing results have gone our way on the Saturday.
“We were lucky in the Aberdeen game that we were playing at the same time as everybody else. But all we are focusing on is the usual doing everything we can do to win the game and then see what happens on Saturday.”