Match Report
Ian McCall made three changes to his side for this fixture with Dundee. Bryan Hodge, Paul Cairney and Ryan Conroy coming into the starting eleven as Chris Erskine, Simon Donnelly and Stephen McKeown dropped to the bench where a late change saw Kris Doolan replace Kieran Burns.
Both sides showed plenty of endeavour in the opening exchanges with the Dundee fans in good voice as the news that promotion rivals Inverness had fallen a goal behind at Queen of the South.
It was Thistle though that were doing the bulk of the pressing with both Liam Buchanan and Mark Corcoran looking particularly lively. The latter of that due seeing a well struck shot blocked by a Dundee defender.
In the 19th minute Gary Harkins was able to break from midfield for Dundee but the ex Jag who has already scored twice against Thistle this season mishit his shot this time and his effort trickled tamely wide of goal.
Four minutes later Thistle were a whisker away from establishing league. Ryan Conroy came close to catching out Dundee keeper Bullock with a free kick from 25 yards out but Bullock was able to push Conroy's effort round the post for a corner.
Thistle continued to impress as they grew in confidence and a fine move in the 25th minute ended with Paul Cairney sending a shot wide of goal.
There was a blow for Thistle though five minutes later when Liam Buchanan, who had been looking sharp to this point, had to be withdrawn from the fray after picking up an injury. Simon Donnelly the man chosen to replace him.
It perhaps took Thistle a little time to adjust to that change but in the 37th minute Mark Corcoran was only just beaten to a through ball by Dundee keeper Bullock.
Corcoran was at the heart of much of Thistle's better play at this point and twice in the space of two minutes was close to opening the scoring. In the 39th minute he did well to get the ball from under his feet but his final shot lacked the power to truly test Bullock.
Bullock was tested two minutes later when he saved but couldn't hold Corcoran's first time shot with the loose ball cleared for a corner.
As half-time drew closer Thistle continued to push for an opening goal and a neat back heel from Bryan Hodge nearly helped create the goal that Thistle's play up to this point merited. Simon Donnelly was the player to benefit from Hodge's skill but although Donnelly was able to get the ball round Bullock the angle his found himself was too tight for a shot and his cross was cleared.
A neat through ball from David Rowson was collected by Paul Cairney but he was tackled before crossing and the half ended with Simon Donnelly poking a shot goal wards that Bullock had time to get down to save.
Thistle were able to start the second half in much the same fashion as they had ended the first and were close to a goal three minutes after the restart. Mark Corcoran collected the ball in space inside the box but could only drag his shot wide of target.
That chance aside it was Dundee that the better of the early exchanges in the second half. There were loud shouts for a Dundee penalty when Shinnie went to ground in the Thistle box but the game restarted with a goal kick.
Thistle though were not far from opening the scoring in the 64th minute. A Ryan Conroy corner was only cleared as far as Bryan Hodge who from the edge of the box sent a rasping drive just over the bar.
Thistle were close again in the 68th minute. Ryan Conroy galloped down the left hand side to could affect and his cross was met by Kris Doolan who was unlucky to see his sharp shot hit the side netting.
In the 74th minute Dundee took the lead. Sub Pat Clarke had been on the pitch for a mere matter of seconds when he got onto the end of a left wing cross to head home from inside the Thistle 6 yard box.
Thistle wasted a good chance for a quick response when in the 78th minute Kris Doolan elected to pass rather than shoot when in a good position inside the Dundee box.
With 9 minutes remaining Thistle should have been level. A great ball through ball from Bryan Hodge picked out Kris Doolan and his shot smacked off the base of the post and bounced clear. Thistle's luck against Dundee this season summed up in one incident.
With the game in injury time and Thistle still pressing Chris Erskine saw a shot deflected just wide of goal and with that chance went Thistle's last chance of rescuing a point from a game they should have won.
