Lewis Mayo: We will take positive mindset into cup clash

Lewis Mayo insists Kilmarnock will take a positive attitude into the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup tie this weekend.

We visit holders Celtic in a bid to secure a fifth-round spot, and defender Lewis is hoping to lean on previous positive results against the Glasgow side.

He said: “At some point you’re going to need to pull big performances out of the bag. It is a challenge for us, no doubting that, but it’s one I think we can look forward to. We just need to give it our best go.

“If you want to win a cup you need to beat the best teams in the country, it is a big ask, especially being away from home. But I think we just need to take that positive mindset in.

“The core of our group, over the past couple of years, has had good results against these sort of teams. We will use that experience and we’ve just got to go for it. Especially in one-off cup fixtures as well, anything can happen.

“From our point of view, I think there is pressure on us every game but I don’t think that is anything to be scared of. Pressure means there is something to play for.

“We know we are fully motivated and we know there is a challenge there but it is one worth fighting for.”

Lewis added: “I think it was a similar sort of time last year when we went there and we got a draw. But the nature of it, the performance was excellent.

“We went down early, we stayed in the game in the second half. Even at their ground we made them feel really uncomfortable. I think a lot of that was to do with the work we did in the game. The way we pressed them, the way we hurt them. Actually we probably could have nicked the win at the end.

“Even the last time we played them here, I think that is as good a performance we have had against Celtic in the last couple of years and we got nothing for it.

“So I think if we can get to that sort of level, we give ourselves the best chance.”