Gary Mackay-Steven was the player who spoke to the media this week ahead of the Kilmarnock game.

“It is a game we are looking forward to after the performance last weekend. We want to go down and get the three points.

“We spent time watching the Motherwell game again. It was not too nice for any of us. It was a very poor performance and we never got going. It was disappointing in so many aspects. We now want to put that right and put it behind us. We want to show what we are really capable of.

“We are looking forward to the run of games that are now coming up. The season has been a bit stop start with the international breaks so it nice to get a lot of games coming up which will give us the chance to try and get some momentum. We want to consolidate second place.

“The players did not take too much notice of all the speculation. It was not something that we spoke about in the dressing room. We just went about our business. It is a great boost the manager is staying. He was a major factor in me coming here. I wanted to work with him and I know I speak for everyone in the dressing room and the club when I say we are delighted his future is here.

“I would honestly say the speculation did not affected us. You do not let it get to you unless something different is said by the manager himself. He is still there every day at training and the training has been no different. And come matchday again it is no different.

“Other people can speculate but as a group from my personal point of view, until something is actually said, as it was by the Chairman yesterday, you just go about your business and nothing changes really.

“I actually did not see what Kris Boyd said but I heard about it. He is entitled to his opinion. Our incentive is mainly to get the three points after dropping points last weekend. We really don’t need any added motivation. As players we don’t have to agree with what he said. I certainly don’t. I think the boys who got called up certainly merited it for the consistency they have shown over a long period.

“Playing for this club, we have enough motivation anyway to go down there and win.

“Last week we know we never got going from the first whistle and Motherwell fully deserved the three points. The performance was certainly not like an Aberdeen one from the past few seasons.

“We really want to put that right on Sunday and show what we are about. We want to play our game and create chances.

“Hopefully the good performances and the consistency that we are all looking for will come.