Europa League hopes may have been dashed for Ross County, but manager Jim McIntyre remains determined to break a club record by finishing fourth in the Premiership.
County are sixth, a point adrift of Motherwell, who are in fourth, and only behind fifth-placed St Johnstone on goal difference.
Celtic’s Scottish Cup semi-final defeat to Rangers on Sunday meant only the top three teams in the Premiership will qualify for European football next season but McIntyre is intent on finishing the campaign on a high as the Staggies attempt to better the fifth-placed finish in their first season in the top-flight in 2012-13.
McIntyre said: “Fourth place is up for grabs between three teams and we will all be trying our best to achieve that and make it a very good season.
“That’s the goal, to try to finish as high as we possibly can. If we can do that then it would be a fantastic season, although we do have hard games ahead.
“We knew if we didn’t finish in the top six there was still a chance we could finish 11th, so that alleviates that pressure.”
Celtic manager Ronny Deila has come under intense pressure since the weekend loss and McIntyre expects a backlash from the Premiership leaders.
He added: “They will really be hurting after Sunday. We have a couple of players suspended and a couple missing. We know every time we go there it’s a really tough ask but we will prepare properly and try to win the game.
“Every time we play the Old Firm the focus is on them. Celtic are a huge establishment and we accept that’s the market we are working in.
“It’s business as usual for us and we will concentrate on ourselves. We know we are a good side and we know we can cause problems. We create chances and it’s about taking them at Parkhead.
“We have to ensure we are well organised because they have quality players who can hurt us. They will be all the more dangerous considering the stick they will have received. But they are still top of the league and still have international players who will be hurting.”
County will once again make the trip to Budapest for their pre-season training camp this summer, between July 3 and 9.
The Dingwall side will play two fixtures in Hungary prior to the group stage of the reformatted League Cup, which begins the following weekend.
