Gray hopes to stay at Partick until the end of the season

Partick Thistle manager Ian McCall hopes Damon Gray will be allowed to extend his stay at the club following his Scottish Cup goal at Ibrox.

Gray's loan deal from Hibernian is due to expire after the weekend, but the Jags boss is hopeful the striker can remain for at least another month.

"I spoke with Rod Petrie today and he was going to speak to Mixu Paatelainen," McCall told BBC Scotland.

"Rod's been very accommodating and fingers crossed something will happen."

Interview: Partick Thistle manager Ian McCall

Gray's composed finish on 67 minutes put Thistle in the lead against Rangers on Wednesday.

However, Kris Boyd's goal just two minutes later forced the quarter-final tie to a reply at Firhill.

And the teenage striker has expressed an interest in staying in Glasgow longer.

"It's up to Hibs but I would like to remain at Partick until the end of the season," Gray told Hibernian's website.

"In the summer my aim would be to return to Easter Road and hopefully challenge for a place in the first team.

"I knew at the start of this season that it would be difficult for me to break into the side, so going on loan was a good option for me."

And McCall is banking on Hibs manager Mixu Paatelainen taking a similar view.

"We hope Mixu will agree that Damon's getting great experience here," he said.

"He's only 19, and he certainly has a chance in the game.

"He's a very good natural finisher, and as good a striker as I've worked with."

McCall admits that although the club is now guaranteed another bumper pay day at Firhill, he would have preferred to have won outright.

"We felt if we could keep it a bit tighter for even five more minutes, we might have gone on and won the game," he said.

"It was a great night for us, but yes, we might have missed an opportunity.

"But Aberdeen have shown you can beat the Old Firm at the second time of asking.

"In any case, I don't think the financial people at the club will be too upset that we've got the replay - whenever that may be."

Rangers face a fixture pile-up and it is unclear when the match will take place.

However, McCall says he is in favour of playing on the first scheduled semi-final day on 13 April.