Partick Thistle v Celtic: Lee Ashcroft says Jags face toughest challenge in Premier Sports Cup

Partick Thistle captain Lee Ashcroft wants to tick off the Hampden Park semi-final box but knows overcoming Celtic is the “hardest challenge” to that aim.

The 32-year-old former Kilmarnock, Dunfermline and Dundee defender has played at the national stadium over the years but not when a place in a major cup final is at stake.

The Championship side have to somehow get past the Scottish champions in the Premier Sports Cup quarter-final tie at Firhill on Sunday and Ashcroft accepts it is the most daunting of tasks.

“I’ve not had the chance to go to Hampden and there’s will be no better time to do it than on Sunday.” he told the PA news agency.

“It is the hardest challenge we are going to get but hopefully we can go out there and give ourselves the best opportunity to try to get there.

“I’ve played in league games at Hampden before but it’s a different achievement to get there in a cup semi-final. It’s one of the things that have you have got to do.

“I’ve been at this stage before, maybe once or twice, and just not got any further than this.

“So I’m always hopeful and you always want to go and do things in your career and that would be good for a lot of the boys in there.

“That’s aim. It’s not going to be easy, it’s hard.

“We’ve done well to get to this point.

“You obviously want to avoid Celtic or Rangers etc but if you’re going to have a chance of getting somewhere, you need to beat them at some point.

“It’s going to be the hardest challenge we can get but it’s one we are relishing and I am looking forward to it.

“Obviously we wanted a home draw, first and foremost. I don’t want to say it’s an easier game, but it’s a better game if you’re at home.

“Going to Parkhead can be a real struggle, so the fact we’ve got them here, where we are used to playing and we’ve got a good crowd coming to support us as well, hopefully we can give a good account of ourselves, hopefully stay in the game and give ourselves the best opportunity.”