Inveness boss John Hughes aims to exploit Celtic 'weaknesses'

Inverness manager John Hughes reckons Celtic's inability to defend set-pieces was behind their early Europa League exit.

The Hoops saw their hopes of progressing in Europe ended by Thursday night's 2-1 home defeat to Ajax and Hughes is hoping to rub salt into the wounds at the Caledonian Stadium on Sunday after the pitch passed an early inspection.

Hughes claims to have spotted the Scottish Premiership leaders' weakness and intends to exploit it when Ronny Deila's side head north for the Sky Live fixture.

"We have to be positive and know that we can score against Celtic," he said. "They are quite a formidable team but there is weaknesses in there and I think you to belief that we can score.

"We've proved we can do that and I think they are a little bit vulnerable at set-pieces. They are no longer zonal, they have gone touch-tight with just one or two marking zonally. We just have to go and capitalise on that.

"Ronny has been getting some stick but that goes with the territory of being Celtic manager. You get judged on every game.

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"I thought Celtic created enough chances to beat Ajax on Thursday but they just needed to take them. However, they just haven't seemed to carry much luck in Europe.

"They showed they were vulnerable in Europe at set-pieces and it cost them dear."

Celtic assistant manager John Collins is a good friend of Hughes but he hopes Celtic can make an instant recovery from their European woes by beating Caley Thistle.

He said: "I'm looking forward to the game. It's always a challenge against my old mate Yogi [Hughes].

"They never make it easy for you, it's never an easy place to go.

"It's their cup final. Wherever we go it's our opponents' cup final. They've got nothing to lose and everything to gain. It's the opposite for us.

"We'll go there and do what we've been doing domestically, which is putting in good performances and scoring goals."