RANGERS v PARTICK TH

MARTYN WAGHORN has continually replayed his missed chances against Celtic in his mind and is desperate for the opportunity to make amends at Hampden next week. And that’s why the Rangers striker admitted he must hit top form against Partick Thistle at Ibrox today to stake a claim for a starting place against their other Glasgow rivals.

Waghorn – injured for last season’s Scottish Cup semi-final shootout win against the Hoops – squandered a one-on-one against Craig Gordon before the Hoops keeper pulled off another save from the Gers striker in last month’s 1-1 draw at Parkhead.

The former Wigan frontman admitted he should have done better and, after three games without a goal, wants to put on a show against the Jags in the last chance to earn a place in Pedro Caixinha’s starting 11 for the last-four clash with Celtic.

Waghorn, who started in last week’s 3-0 win at Aberdeen, said: “I’d love to face Partick and get the chance to stake a claim for a place against Celtic after missing great chances at Parkhead.

“If I’m being honest the chances I missed run through my mind every day and I’d like to rectify that. But I need stay in the side and if I get the nod at the weekend I want to do my job.

“I’ve watched that last Celtic game over and over again – it was a brilliant save! Seriously, the ball took a little bobble but I needed to get it more into the corner or slow down a bit.

“I needed to score it at that stage in the game.

“I could have done a thousand other things but it was just one of those things. I’ve looked it, I’ve worked on it and hopefully I get the chance.

“If I’m in the same situation at Hampden I know what I’ll do.

“We set our stall out early on at Parkhead. We worked hard, we really put them on the back foot.

“We can take positives from nicking a goal late on going into the semi. We don’t want to have one eye on the Cup tie because it’s about Partick Thistle and