Ross County manager Jim McIntyre says celebrations will be on hold should the Staggies triumph in Sunday’s League Cup final against Hibernian.
County have the opportunity to land their first major silverware when they meet the Championship side in this weekend’s encounter at Hampden Park.
The Highlanders are fourth in the Premiership but are being closely pursued by St Johnstone, who drew level on points with the Staggies courtesy of Wednesday’s 1-0 win against Caley Thistle.
Saints face the Staggies at McDiarmid Park on Wednesday in a potentially crucial encounter, with Tommy Wright’s side enjoying the benefit of a free weekend to prepare for the game.
McIntyre says the fixture, which is quickly followed by next Saturday’s Highland derby against Inverness at Victoria Park, leaves the Dingwall men with no time to savour their success should they get the better of Hibs on Sunday.
McIntyre said: “We don’t have any celebrations planned because we have a game against St Johnstone on Wednesday night.
“We will need to win it first and foremost and then decide what we might do but we don’t have anything planned.
“The logistics of being at Hampden and trying to get back up the A9 are first up. But then we have a massive league game against St Johnstone and play Inverness in the league a week on Saturday, so, from our point of view, it goes back to my feeling that it will be better next season, when they finish the tournament in November. At this stage we always have midweek fixtures from call-offs.”
The Staggies’ league form has varied recentl, with three victories and three losses from their last six Premiership matches.
McIntyre is confident his players can put league matters to the back of their minds in this weekend’s Hampden showpiece, however, and he added: “We just have to focus on winning the game. The bottom line is that this is an unbelievable chance to win a cup and put the club on the map.”
