Source: PA
Killie out to confound critics - Hammill
Jamie Hamill believes a desire to prove their critics wrong can help steer Kilmarnock away from the relegation zone this season.
The midfielder knows the Rugby Park side have been tipped for the drop by pundits after narrowly holding onto their Clydesdale Bank Premier League status on the final day last term. A goalless draw against Falkirk was enough to keep them in the top-flight, while consigning the Bairns to the Irn-Bru First Division.
This time around, Killie have a new manager in Mixu Paatelainen and a new-look side following the arrival of several players over the summer and Hamill insists no-one at Kilmarnock will be approaching this season with trepidation.
"People think whatever they want to think," he said. "But we, as a team, don't have that mindset that we are going to get relegated this season. It went to the last game of the season and the boys never want to experience that again.
"Even though it was a good atmosphere, it was one of those games you never want to play in. The press keep saying that we'll get relegated but we never think negatively as a team, we always look to progress.
"When you read bad press, it just spurs you on. It makes you want to take that extra step and maybe push on in the final five minutes of a game to get the winner instead of hanging on for a 0-0 draw."
