Kevin Holt has revealed two superstars inspired his halfway line effort against Hamilton Accies as he warned Kelle Roos he won't hesitate from trying his luck once again.
The Partick Thistle s tar was inches away from a sure goal of the season and career strike in the weekend away day win in the Scottish Championship. After glancing up, he noticed Ryan Fulton well off his line and had the keeper back peddling to keep the long-range strike from nestling in the back of the net.
It was the first time he's tried his luck from a dead ball situation that far out and insists had the referee been quicker to drop the ball, he would have had a much better chance of joining a famous exclusive group including Wayne Rooney and David Beckham. Thistle take a break from their Championship title pursuit as they bid to upset Aberdeen on their own patch and reach the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals and with that end a long, long wait for a return to the national stadium in domestic cup competition.
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Opening up on his effort, Holt said: “The ref had the ball in his hands and the goalie was miles off his line. If the ref had dropped the ball five seconds earlier I’d have had a better chance of scoring.
“It’s the first time I’ve tried that from a dead ball. There’s been moments in live play where the goalie has been off his line and I’ve stepped in and intercepted a pass and tried it.
“Saturday’s definitely the closest I’ve come though.
“Beckham and Rooney are the two that come to mind. Beckham back when I was a kid.
“Then there was Ryan McCann for Queen of the South. I was at that game in the Queens end at the time although that was more like 87 yards or something.
“We had just scored and had a good bit of momentum in the game and I thought I’d get away with trying it.
“Try it against Aberdeen? Absolutely! I’m never shy of having a wee shot.
“Kelle Roos is a bit bigger mind you so it’s a big ask to get by him.
“As long as at least one of the boys can get the ball past him tomorrow.”
All the pressure will be on Jim Goodwin's troops as the Premiership team and the home side. They've built up a good record at Pittodrie this season, but that doesn't fear Holt with Thistle going to the Granite City will full intensions of winnng the game.
He continued: “It’s huge. All the pressure will be on them. They’re doing well and had a good result at the weekend.
“Aberdeen are a good team and it’s a hard place to go for Premiership sides never mind a Championship team in the cup.
“But the pressure is on them, the shackles are off us a bit and we are confident we can go up there and get through.
“Aberdeen are favourites by right but we won’t go there and lie down. We are going there to win the game.”
Boss Ian McCall knows the benefits Thistle could reap from securing a last four showdown at Hampden. Not only would it bring emotional joy, but would add real financial benefits to the coffers at Firhill.
He added: "It would be great for the players, the board, the supporters and great for the club.
"We are very aware the league is way bigger.
"The best team usually wins the league.
"In the League Cup, there's been a number of winners of the last ten or 15 years who are not necessarily the best team in the country.
"They managed to win a cup.
"It would be great for us to get to Hampden and not just emotionally. With my head on, it would be financially great for us as well.
"We are going up against the third or fourth-best team in Scotland so we're under no illusions how hard it'll be."
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