Match Report
Manager Ian McCall made one change to his side for the visit of Dundee although with Ian Maxwell coming in for Simon Donnelly it meant a change in formation with Thistle employing a three pronged central defensive partnership.
Thistle were clearly determined to make amends for last week’s reverse at Raith Rovers and nearly made a dream start to this match. Iain Flannigan whipped in a free kick from wide on the left and not one but two Thistle players were just inches away from making connecting with the ball.
Dundee’s pace and movement was causing Thistle problems at the back but a chance came Iain Flannigan’s way in the tenth minute. After working himself into a good position the midfielder send a shot just a foot or so the wrong side of Douglas’ right hand post.
The action was fast and frantic and in the 19th minute Thistle won their first corner of the game after Paddy Boyle and Iain Flannigan had combined well down the left. Flannigan’s corner though was headed clear and Dundee very nearly caught Thistle on the break. Colin McMenamin squared the ball for the always dangerous Leigh Griffiths and Halliwell had to produce a good stop to prevent Griffiths from squaring. Even then the ball squirmed cleared before the ball was cleared.
That had been the best chance of the game thus far but it was followed by a good period of Thistle pressure. Paul Cairney and Liam Buchanan combined to set up Martin Grehan who was too high with his final shot before Cairney was again involved, this time setting up Liam Buchanan for a shot from the edge of the box that went wide.
As Thistle attempted to keep Dundee on the back foot a Paddy Boyle cross dropped just behind Liam Buchanan.
In an entertaining game, Dundee were a constant threat and it took a well timed challenge from Conrad Balatoni to halt Leigh Griffiths’ progress towards the Thistle goal. Thistle enjoying the break of the ball and play restarted with a goal kick.
There was anxiety for Thistle in the 30th minute when Dundee won a free kick just outside the Thistle box firmly in Gary Harkins territory. Harkins’ effort, however, was tame and his free kick struck the Thistle wall. Dundee were able to keep the pressure on before Harkins sent a shot high over the Thistle bar.
At the other end Thistle also had a free kick in a promising position and when the ball was worked to Paddy Boyle he was a little unlucky to see Rab Douglas get his body firmly behind his fierce shot.
The Thistle fans were warming to the Jags’ performance and in the 38th minute a dangerous looking David Rowson cross was taken almost from the head of Liam Buchanan by a desperate clearance from a Dundee defender.
That was Thistle’s last chance of the first half but not Dundee’s. A second Dundee corner in quick succession was flicked on and Craig McKeown’s header almost ran right along the Thistle crossbar.
An entertaining half ended with Bryn Halliwell requiring two attempts before safely grabbing hold of a Leigh Griffiths free kick.
The first chance of the second half came Thistle’s way. The impressive Paul Cairney picked out Martin Grehan with an excellent pass and from the left hand side of the Dundee box, Grehan sent his shot wide of the opposite post.
The second half wasn’t quite a lively as the first but Thistle should have been in front after 68 minutes. Liam Buchanan found himself with time and space inside the Dundee box but with just Douglas to beat he skewed his shot wide of target.
Thistle were in front though 3 minutes later and the goal came via an unlikely source. Martin Grehan’s back post cross found the head of Paddy Boyle whose header back across goal dropped into the opposite corner of the net.
Two minutes later Thistle were close to extending that advantage. Martin Grehan was able to climb above the Dundee defence to reach a Paul Paton cross but he couldn’t keep his header down.
Thistle were close again in the 76th minute. Liam Buchanan did well to square the ball across to Martin Grehan but Craig McKeown was quickly across to block Grehan’s prod towards goal.
As you would you expect Dundee pushed men forward in search of an equaliser and it took a great block from Ian Maxwell to stop a Jamie Adams shot that looked as if it might be net bound.
With Dundee pushing forward that left possible gaps for Thistle to exploit and in the 82nd minute Thistle were nearly able to do that but when Paul Cairney squared to an over lapping Paddy Boyle the flag went up for offside.
A late free kick then late corner aside Thistle dealt comfortably with Dundee’s increasingly frantic attempts for an equaliser and when the final whistle blew the Thistle players received a fantastic ovation from the Jags fans.
