Mixu Paatelainen believes Dundee United can manage a great escape from relegation but says his players need to show more "combined spirit" to dig out results.

The Tangerines have narrowed the gap at the foot of the table to five points and United's manager says that even if that gap remains the same after this weekend, the league split can help his side recover.

While refusing to put a points target to his players, Paatelainen said there would be plenty of twists and turns in the relegation battle and that he and the players were optimistic.

"I think our players have tremendous character, not to give up or put the tools away," he said. "They keep believing and that's why the gap is only five points at the moment.

"That gives us hope.

"Even if the gap remains five points or whatever, going to the last five matches, I feel we have a good chance because a lot can happen in those five matches.

"We don't put any targets on it. We don't look at it that way at all."

United's hopes suffered a dent in midweek with defeat to Partick Thistle but Paatelainen said he didn't believe anyone would put together a long winning run and that his concern was just about taking more points than Kilmarnock.

"We do know that Kilmarnock will lose, they will win, they will draw," he said. "We just need to win more than them in order to survive.

"I don't think any of us down there at the bottom of the table are consistent. Yes, we have been playing well and the game is in good shape but we haven't been winning enough for our liking.

"There's plenty to improve on and we need to find a little bit more of that consistency that we need in order to survive.

"You can't have your eyes too much on [other teams] because then you lose your focus, your game, your concentration. That's what our players must solely and purely concentrate on."

Asked if the players had learned from what has been a high-pressure situation over recent months, the manager said that lessons had been learned.

Paatelainen said that players pushing each other to give their best was a key factor and while that had been lacking, he saw an improvement and wanted more from his players.

"I'm 100% sure that our players have learned from this [experience], definitely," he said. "When you talk about pointing fingers and taking responsibility and demanding things from others I don't think we've had enough of that this season.

"It is a combined effort. There are certain spells and moments in matches where there is a lack, in every side, in every player.

" So that's when the others must make sure that nobody gets carried away. I don't think we've had enough of that combined spirit. That's part and parcel of the game not to the detriment of team spirit but for everyone's success.

"At the moment we have that and long may it continue. That's one thing positive that our squad has learned during these difficult weeks."