Aberdeen defender Max Lowe has warned Celtic the Dons will be going all out to delay the Hoops title celebrations this weekend.
The Dons must beat Neil Lennon’s side for the first time this season if they are to prevent the Premiership leaders from winning the title for the eighth season in a row on Saturday at Pittodrie.
The Hoops would have been confirmed as champions if the Dons have avoided defeat to Rangers at Ibrox on Sunday but Steven Gerrard’s side won 2-0 thanks to two penalties from James Tavernier.
Lowe, who is on loan from Derby County, was disappointed to lose to the Gers and the thought of seeing the Hoops celebrate a title win at Pittodrie fills him with dread.
He said: “The result at Ibrox was disappointing but we have to move on quickly because we know Celtic can win the league at our place on Saturday – and we are not going to let that happen.
“The last thing we want to see is another team celebrating the title on our ground. We don’t want to see that at our place.
“Fair play to Celtic, they have had a good season but we are going to do our best to make sure that does not happen.
“We are not going to let them win the league easily at Pittodrie on Saturday. We need to be clinical in both boxes.”
Celtic head to Pittodrie having beaten the Dons 3-0 at Hampden in the Scottish Cup semi-final earlier this month and Lowe hopes his side can show their display at the National Stadium was below-par by delivering in this weekend’s lunchtime kick-off.
He said: “Will we be fired up by our performance in the Scottish Cup semi-final against Celtic? Yes, it will be like a little bit of revenge for us.
“Hopefully we can play well and get a result. Even if the young lads have to come in, they have done really well this season in big games. We feel we have the squad to do well next weekend.
“It’s important to go out on a high. I always try to look on things in a positive light. We want to beat Celtic at home because we want that third spot and it would be massive for us.”
While Celtic can clinch the title the Dons have their own goals to aim for, namely clinching third place and with it a place in the Europa League next season.
Aberdeen are three points clear of Kilmarnock with three games remaining and Lowe knows what is at stake.
He said: “We have got three massive games ahead of us. But we know what we need to do. We will try not to look at results elsewhere but you will keep an eye on them.
“But we just have to look at Celtic first and then the two other games. Aberdeen deserve to be in that third position and a club like this need to be in Europe. The club is big enough to do that.”