Partick looking for “kick-start” Celtic result

Aaron Muirhead is hoping for a result against Celtic. Picture: SNS

The Jags head to the east end of Glasgow on New Year’s Day on a run of nine games without a win and still smarting from a 5-1 thrashing at the hands of Motherwell at the weekend.

In contrast, the Scottish Premiership league leaders have not lost a single game domestically this season, with some backing them to go through the entire campaign unbeaten.

But, despite the size of the task facing beleaguered Thistle, Muirhead insists the clash at Parkhead will be a dream come true for most of their players.

The defender said: “It would definitely kick-start our season.

“If you pick up anything there, it would give you a lift. We can hopefully put on a good performance.

“A couple of years ago, I was playing in the Third Division and now hopefully I’ll be involved in this game.

“It’s everybody’s dream. At the start of the season, you look to see when we are playing Celtic at Parkhead.

“That’s the one everybody wants to be involved in. Obviously, you want to be involved all season but it will be a highlight going there.

“I’ve never played there and I don’t think many of the boys have. It’s an unknown if you like.

“It gives us the lift we need going to a big stadium. There will be a large crowd there and hopefully we can give a good account of ourselves.”

He added: “Coming off the back of a 5-1 defeat, everybody is going to be feeling a bit down.

“But I don’t think the spirits will need lifting too much as we are going to Parkhead and everybody has been looking forward to that all season.

“It’s a strong set of characters in the dressing room and I’m sure we will be fine going into the game.”

Muirhead is hoping to be back in the starting line-up after admitting watching Sunday’s heavy defeat from the bench was agony.

He said: “It’s horrible watching the boys lose. When it’s a 5-1 defeat, it looks bad.

“It was silly mistakes that cost us the goals but I don’t think it was a 5-1 game.

“Hopefully we can cut out the mistakes and kick on for the rest of the season.

“You don’t want to see people make mistakes even when you’re not in the team.

“It’s a squad game and, if you’re not playing, you just hope the boys on the park can go out and get the result.”

Partick are set to be bolstered for the visit to Celtic by the addition of Sheffield United striker Lyle Taylor, who has agreed a loan deal until the end of the season.

Taylor has netted just twice for the League One side this season but bagged 29 goals in the Scottish First Division with Falkirk last term.

Muirhead said: “It’s a massive boost. I played against him last year and he was a handful.

“He scored a lot of goals so hopefully he can add something to the squad that has been missing.

“He’s a physical threat, he’s a strong lad, and hopefully he will cause problems for some of the defences in the league.

“He was a big hit in the First Division and hopefully he can come here and show what he can do in the Scottish Premiership.”