IT’S A PAINFUL FRAME OF MIND

Waghorn reveals his personal torment at squandering golden chance at Celtic Park

EVERY night over the past few weeks, Martyn Waghorn has closed his eyes and endured flashbacks to that chance. A scorned opportunity to lash Rangers into the lead against Celtic at Parkhead.

Clean through on goal early in last month’s 1-1 Old Firm draw, the Ibrox striker has tortured himself over Craig Gordon’s save and the wasted opportunity ever since.

‘If I’m being honest, the chance I missed runs through my mind every day,’ revealed Waghorn. ‘I would like to rectify that.

‘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 at it, I’ve worked on it and hopefully I get the chance. If I’m in the same situation at Hampden next weekend, I know what I’ll do.’

Indeed, before the end of the month, come two opportunities for Old Firm redemption.

The first in their Scottish Cup semi-final a week tomorrow. The next in the final league meeting of the two teams at Ibrox on April 29.

There is, of course, the business of today’s home league clash with an in-form Partick Thistle to deal with before they turn their attention to Celtic.

Defeated just twice in their last 14 games, Thistle secured their top-six spot last weekend. For Rangers, the slim chance of catching Aberdeen — nine points clear in second with six games to go — remains a driving force.

‘We don’t want to have one eye on the Scottish Cup semi-final because it’s about Partick Thistle. Whoever gets the shirt for that game will give their all for the team,’ added Waghorn.

‘But, of course, the Celtic one is a big one and everyone wants to play in it, so it could be in the back of the players’ minds. The main thing is we get the win and don’t let the good work from Pittodrie last weekend go to waste.

‘It’s going to be a challenge but, on a personal level, I’d love to play this week and get the chance to stake a claim for a place against Celtic after missing great chances at Parkhead.’

A 3-0 victory at Pittodrie may yet plant a seed of doubt in Aberdeen’s mind. With a superior goal difference, Derek McInnes’ team effectively hold a 10-point lead. Yet Rangers will enter the Thistle game buoyed by their best away result of the season, keen to maintain momentum.

‘The win at Pittodrie was a huge psychological boost,’ continued Waghorn. ‘We did well in the first half and had a couple of chances but had to withstand some big pressure at the start of the second half.

‘It was nice to get the win after a lot of criticism and a bit of negativity going into the game over our chances of getting second place in the league.

‘Aberdeen kind of gave the game to us in the last five minutes.

‘We took full advantage and that’s the kind of result this late in the season that can put a bit of doubt in their minds — and it’s important we use it as a stepping stone and build on it.

‘It’s up to the players now to have the right mindset. We’re playing for Rangers and have to win every game, so we need a bit of belief and swagger.

‘The win at Aberdeen was a big result, but it’s just one win and it’s what we do in the next game and the week after that. We all know what we’ve got to do to kick on.’

Rangers have been here before this season. Hopeful of turning a corner, just before another underwhelming performance and result.

Even if Aberdeen contrive to lose their next four league games, Rangers still have to win their next four before the sides meet at Ibrox on the penultimate weekend of the season.

‘How many of our remaining games do we need to win to finish second? All six,’ said Waghorn.

‘To be honest, we take it game by game and see how it goes. We’ve got the big three post-split games at home, so we will just do our best and see where it takes us at the end.

‘We need to focus on ourselves and, if other teams drop points, then that’s great. The result last weekend was a big step in the right direction, but Partick Thistle have a knack of nicking results.

‘They are a hard-working side, all know their jobs and are defensively solid. They were dangerous when we played them at Firhill and they’ve crept into the top six, so it will be difficult but we’re confident.’

Unexpectedly, Rangers have improved defensively with 20-year-old David Bates and 18-year-old Myles Beerman in the back four.

Playing either or both against Celtic at Hampden would constitute a gamble, but Waghorn believes they could cope.

‘Batesy and Myles have come in and done a fantastic job,’ he said. ‘They are playing with no fear just now, they are doing what they need to do. Myles is bombing up the wing like he has played there for 10 or 15 years.

‘It is going to be a tough challenge for the skip Lee Wallace, for Rob Kiernan, Clint Hill or whoever is going to come back in at centre-half. But it’s a nice headache for the manager.

‘The boys who have come in have performed well. If they are playing well, then who knows what will happen. It is a nice headache to have going into a big game.’

If I get the same chance at Hampden next week, I know what I’ll do