KILMARNOCK manager Alex Dyer is steeling his players for five massive games as the Rugby Park side look to gatecrash the top six.

Killie are five points behind sixth-placed Hibernian with five games to go until the split after losing to Celtic yesterday, but Dyer is holding out hope that his side can still claw their way into the top half of the league.

And the way his players are fighting for the cause is giving him reason for optimism ahead of a huge period for the club.

"That is the message we have got, we have got five games, they are important,” Dyer said.

"In 10 days' time we play Aberdeen at home, a tough game, but we played very well the other night

when we went out the cup.

"So, that's a game we look forward to and then we play teams around us, Livi, St Mirren, Motherwell.

“It is going to be a tough run in but games that, if we want to get to the top six, we have to win.

“There’s a lot of character [in the team] and we move the ball well. We’re up to speed fitness-wise too.

“I’ve got two lads up front who are doing well for the football club. Long may that continue.

“The next five games are so important.”

Dyer disagreed with referee Kevin Clancy’s decision to send off midfielder Alan Power during the second half of the defeat at Celtic Park for a challenge on Jeremie Frimpong.

"I didn't think it was a second yellow to be honest,” he said.

"He tried to tackle the lad, the lad went down, but I don't think it was a second yellow.

“When you go down to 10 men against a side like Celtic you are always going to be up against it. But we battled through, worked hard and tried our best to stay in the game as much as we could.

“I know they will be alright in the end"

Meanwhile, Dyer hopes that Ally Taylor can follow in his brother Greg’s footsteps, after coming on to face his sibling yesterday.

“I hope Ally can have a similar impact to Greg,” he said. “He’s got a bright future.

“He’s a good kid, he works hard every day and he’s been training with the first-team squad for the last month or so.

“It was right that I put him on because we needed another midfielder in there.

“It was a big occasion and he handled it very well.”