Match Preview
While the main issues of a season aren't settled in late December or early January an impressive run over the festive period can set up a Club nicely for the second half of the season.
After having recorded a narrow but deserved win against Airdrie United in our last outing it is that kind of run that Thistle
Dundee were tipped by many as potential league winners after having run Hamilton close last season. It would be an understatement to say that things haven't worked out as planned for Dundee so far this season. Their poor start to the season cost Alex Rae his job as manager, Rae being replaced by Jocky Scott. While a title bid isn't yet out of the question they will need to put together a prolonged run of victories if they hope to get back involved in the promotion mix. Scott's return to Dens park did mark an up turn in their fortunes but Scott tasted defeat for the first time in this spell as Dundee manager when they lost their last match to an in-form Clyde side. A victory for the aforementioned Clyde against Airdrie United during the week saw Dundee drop to third bottom of the league all of which most be the cause of concern for the Dens Park faithful.
Naturally that is of little concern to the Thistle fans with Ian McCall providing www.ptfc.co.uk with the all important team news.
"We will once again be without Stephen McKeown and Damon Gray who remain on the injured list which is a blow. Otherwise things don't look too bad ahead of what will be a tough trip to Dens Park."
"Ian Maxwell went off injured early on against Airdrie United last week with what was diagnosed as a bruised ligament but he has recovered well. He was swimming early in the week which helps aid his recovery and I would rate him at 50:50 at present which is better than we thought earlier in the week. If he isn't fit to face Dundee we are confident he will be fit next week when we start a run of three games in seven days. When you face a run like that you really want every single player to be available and we aren't too far away from that at present."
"A few players have been unwell this week and missed a little training but it hasn't been anything too serious and they should all be able to play against Dundee. John Robertson had been unwell the previous week but he has trained this week and should be fine for Dundee."
Thistle Stats
Current Form - Last Five Games
W D L F A
4 0 1 9 5
Scorers Season 2008/2009
Gary Harkins 7
Stephen McKeown 7
Damon Gray 4
Ian Maxwell 4
Liam Buchanan 3
Scott Chaplain 3
Simon Donnelly 1
Kevin McKinlay 1
Paul Paton 1
Mark Roberts 1
John Robertson 1
Chris Turner 1
Marc Twaddle 1
Own Goals 1
Last Game
Irn-Bru Scottish League First Division
Partick Thistle 2, Airdrie United 1
Dundee Stats
Current Form - Last Five Games
W D L F A
1 2 1 5 3
Scorers Season 2008/2009
Mickael Antoine-Curier 7
Eric Paton 3
Bryan Deasley 1
Paul McHale 1
Christopher Posniak 1
Last Game
Irn-Bru Scottish League First Division
Clyde 1, Dundee 0
Last Meeting
Irn-Bru Scottish League First Division
Saturday October 4th 2008
Partick Thistle 0, Dundee 0
Teams:
Thistle: Tuffey, Paton (McKinlay), Twaddle, Storey, Robertson, Maxwell, McKeown (Chaplain), Rowson, Donnelly, Roberts (Lennon), Harkins.
Dundee: Douglas, Paton, Malone, Dodds, McKeown, Cowan, Daquin, Posniak. Antoine-Curier (Deasley), Gilhaney.
Crowd: 2,556
Match Details
Dundee v Partick Thistle
Irn-Bru Scottish League First Division
Saturday December 20th 2008
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Other First Division Fixtures
Airdrie United v St Johnstone
Dunfermline Athletic v Clyde
Livingston v Queen of the South
Morton v Ross County
Prices
Adults: £17
Concessions: £10
(prices as per official Dundee website)
Match Officials
Referee: Craig Thomson
Assistant Referees: Keith Sorbie & Paul Reid
