Stage set for return to big time. . . if we play our parts

Roberts' wonder goal wasn't enough to take Hearts to a

Tennent's Scottish Cup replay at Firhill. But it was the catalyst for a gutsy second-half comeback that saw them just fail to wipe out a two-goal deficit.

Now Roberts has promised the Partick punters it won't be long before Thistle are back in the big time.

He said: "It was great to get back playing on the big stage at Tynecastle. That is where I want to be playing and that is where Thistle deserve to be playing.

"We have Alloa tomorrow night at Recreation Park, but that is exactly the type of game we need to be taking care of if we want to come back to places like Tynecastle on a regular basis.

"We showed against Hearts that we have plenty of guys in our dressing room who would be able to play at the highest level.

"But we need to take care of Alloa and make sure we are in the play-offs. I think the taste of the big time we got at Tynecastle will help to drive us on to achieve that and hopefully go up."

While Roberts did take some small solace from his brilliant solo strike, which saw him turn Hearts and Scotland star Steven Pressley inside out, he admitted that will not be enough to numb the pain when the semi-final-draw is made later today. He said: "I thought we did enough to win the game never mind get a draw. But the bottom line is we are out and after the amount we put into the game that is a hammer blow.

"I was pleased with my goal as it got us back in the game. But it doesn't mean a lot when you are sitting there listening to the semi-final draw and we aren't in it."

Thistle can take nothing but credit from their efforts against the Scottish Cup favourites. While the quarter-final cup run has yielded almost £300,000 which will allow the Jags to operate without a loss for the season.

The knock-on from the TV revenues generated by their last eight finish means that Thistle's full-time status is assured for another season at least.

But the windfall has also significantly strengthened gaffer Dick Campbell's hand when it comes to bringing in new faces for next season.

While the current Thistle side overcame a nervy start which saw them fall behind after only five minutes to an Edgaras Jankauskas' header, the resolve and determination which has been present all season did not desert the Jags on the big stage.

Roberts' superb slaloming run brought Thistle back into the game after Deividas Cesnauskis had apparently put the Jambos on easy street with a magnificent curling effort in 63 minutes.

But the quality of several of the individual performances from the likes of Roberts, Jimmy Gibson and skipper Marc Smyth, underlined that the team Campbell is building is one that shows every sign of returning Jags to the dizzy heights - if they can hold their nerve in the end-of-season play-off shootout.

Hearts boss Graham Rix knew his side were lucky to make the semis. He admitted: "Thistle were the better team after the break and they left us clinging on at the end."

Taken from Evening Times