Hoops hammering still rankles with Staggies, claims Gardyne

Ross County winger Michael Gardyne says the Staggies are intent on salvaging personal pride when they host Premiership champions Celtic on Sunday.

The Staggies suffered a chastening 6-0 defeat to Neil Lennon’s side when the two sides last met at Parkhead in October, forming County’s heaviest loss during their current eight-match winless sequence.

Despite the Hoops’ excellent form, Gardyne says the manner of defeat still rankles.

He said: “We probably have a point to prove to ourselves.

“I don’t think we are judged on games against Celtic and Rangers from the press or the fans, but in the dressing room we will always judge ourselves.

“We are the ones that go out on the pitch, and to get beaten 5-0 or 6-0 does not sit well – even if it is a Celtic or Rangers.

“We want to go out there and put on a good showing for ourselves and for the fans.

“It’s for that personal pride almost, when you are playing football you need to make sure they are in a game.”

Celtic’s trip to Dingwall this weekend completes a difficult trio of home fixtures for County, who have lost out to Rangers and Aberdeen in recent weeks.

Gardyne, who began his career at Parkhead, is relishing the fixture, with the 33-year-old adding: “We’re playing Celtic who are flying, in front of a full house on the television.

“We always say it, but it’s why we won the Championship last season. These are the games we want to play in, these are the players we want to test ourselves against.

“Against the biggest teams in Scotland, what more do you need to play for?

“Celtic are one of those teams who, if you give the ball away in bad positions, they are going to punish you.

“We just need to make sure we are going into it confident. You always show Celtic massive respect, but you need to have belief going out on to the pitch that you are going to get a result in that game – otherwise there is no point in playing football.”