Paul Hartley will cast sympathy for Gretna aside side as he tries to keep Celtic's Clydesdale Bank Premier League title hopes alive at Almondvale.

The cash-strapped Borders club went in to administration last week and had to get a handout from the SPL to allow them to travel to Pittodrie to play Aberdeen at the weekend.

While hope remains that a new investor to take over from owner Brooks Mileson is on the horizon, the league stepped in with more money on Thursday to ensure that the players receive the reported £70,000 in wages and bonuses owed to them with money left over to allow the club to complete this season's fixtures.

But Hartley, who is set to return on Sunday after missing the midweek Scottish Cup quarter-final replay defeat to Aberdeen at Celtic Park with a virus, is focused only on getting the win that will keep the pressure on SPL leaders Rangers.

He said: "We have no sympathy for anybody.

"We are just going to try and win the game. That is the most important thing for us.

"The players are still feeling good.

"I watched the game against Aberdeen and we created a lot of chances but we couldn't get that break and sometimes that's what happens.

"It would have been a different story if we had converted one of the chances.

"It was a disappointing result but it's how you bounce back from disappointments.

"We've got to keep playing the way we've been playing and when we get chances hopefully they'll go in.

"We have got a good group of players, we remain positive and we look forward to Sunday.

"We know we are in a fight to keep the championship but we are more than determined that we can achieve something.

"We can only look after ourselves and try to win as many games as possible.

"We know we still have to play Rangers three times so there is still a lot to play for."

Hartley added: "First and foremost, it's crucial that we win against Gretna.

"Obviously, they will make it difficult for us although we don't know what team we are going to come up against.

"But we have to be very professional and try and win the match.

"They have made it difficult for a few teams this season.

"You don't become a bad team overnight, which is what some people are suggesting."

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