Miller on Killie battle, Socceroos call-up, and Martin Boyle

How important was the win against Kilmarnock - not just to get a win, but to hold on?

"We’ve had a few unfortunate results where we've conceded in the last few minutes so I think it was good to see that the boys were really resilient and held back and we kept that clean sheet, which I think our defence really needed confidence-wise and now it's just a matter of whether we can keep that going and stay consistent.

Can you feel the tension from the stands a little bit because of what’s happened before?

"There’s been a lot of pressure on us but I think we’ve managed it quite well and against Kilmarnock we’ve shown that we’ve got that quality and got that fight in us to hold out and scrap a result. Obviously we’re buzzing with the three points and hopefully more to come in the next few weeks."

You’ve were out of the team in midweek and now you’re back, what does that do for you?

"You want to be on the pitch, whether you're rested or what it doesn’t really matter. I was just so eager to get back on the pitch, I was well rested and I was just flying to get back in and knew I had to give 120%. But obviously, we got the result so that’s what you gotta do that’s what you gotta do."

It looked like a really physical game as well with a lot of niggles...

"Yeah, Kilmarnock are a very physical side, one of the most physical in the league, so we just had to maintain that and figure out the way they played, and I think the analysis we did before the game really prepared us well. I can’t say anything more than three points is three points."

How key is it to send yourself into the international break with a victory?

"That’s what the gaffer was saying, you feel miles better going into the break with three points and obviously I was lucky enough to get selected for the Socceroos so joining Boyler again for the experience. A lot of travelling and I’m going to be back home, not Sydney but Melbourne which is close enough so I’ll take it."

You'll be hopeful of getting minutes in your home country?

"Going back to Oz is a dream, I loved it there I loved living there, I loved playing there, I loved the lifestyle there, all my family and friends are there and I think a few of them are going to fly over as well so, like I said, it’s a dream to play for the Socceroos and go back home."

When you fly to and from international duty, do you sit next to Martin Boyle on the plane?

"I certainly hope not! He’s very energetic but yeah, I’m assuming we’re sitting next to each other unless he’s upgraded himself to first class - which I’m sure he has!"

That [international call-up] justifies you coming here doesn’t it?

"Yeah exactly; it’s just a matter of me performing week in, week out. Graham Arnold said it’s all about getting minutes and performing for your club, I just have to maintain this performance this consistency, and the better the team does the better I do the more I’m in the spotlight and can just progress and progress."

You’ve played under the manager before, what sort of relationship do you have with him? 

"Yeah he’s like my dad! I’ve been with him since the Mariners academy and I’ve said before it’s a tough love and he’s going to tell you when you’re out of place and he’s going to tell you when you’re doing the right thing but at the end of the day if I listen to how he’s going to play and his philosophy the team’s going to fly and I’m going to fly individually."

Is it like your dad in that he knows when you’re taking the mickey?

"He knows who I am as a person so I think he knows how to keep me in line and behave and he’s been a player himself so he knows exactly what he’s talking about. He’s played at the top level so there’s a lot of respect for him at this club as there should be. We’re going to follow him step by step and trust the process and I think that we’ll get wins down the line."

Did he slap your wrist for that booking at the end?

"It was a little bit heated at the end there but that’s always going to happen, especially with such a physical side but it’s nothing, a win’s a win."

What was it for?

"Just a few heated words amongst one another, nothing more than that."

Does that come back to it being quite an angry game?

"Exactly, it’s just playing a physical team and there’s always going to be that backlash isn’t there. The Scottish league’s such a physical league and everyone’s expecting three points, you don’t know which way it’s going to go on the day."

You’ve been in really good form this season but looking back to last year how difficult was it moving from your home in Australia to a completely different challenge and lifestyle in Scotland?

"Yeah it was a massive massive transition wasn’t it? Obviously moving across the world leaving family and friends behind, it took a lot of time. I had to gain the gaffer’s trust and my teammates' trust and just waited it out and eventually got my opportunity and once I got my opportunity I knew that I had to perform. Like I said I think that I’ve been doing well this season it’s just a matter of maintaining it."

How do you cope with the traveling and the playing?

"I love the travel, to be honest. I really love going to new places or even back home it’s just that feeling that you’re in that football world. As a kid, you dream of going to different places to play football and I’m just lucky enough that I get to go back home."

What about the fatigue and that tiredness and all those long journeys?

"It is a bit of a factor but the strength and conditioning coaches have sent me plans and stuff that I can do on the plane: when to sleep, what exercises to do while in stopovers and stuff so it’s a very professional environment, and hopefully I can stay there."

It’s Bangladesh in Melbourne and then Kuwait for the Palestine game, what do you know about that?

"I’m not too sure about the small details I just know that we’re playing in Kuwait for the Palestine game. At the end of the day, we just need to go out there and get a win and hopefully carry the form that the Socceroos have been doing for the past few years."