Partick Th 1
Dundee Utd 2
League Cup (Section 4)

Match Report

For United's third League Cup group match, youngsters Ralph Milne and Richard Gough were drafted into the starting eleven, with Graeme Payne and Davie Dodds dropping out. Skipper Paul Hegarty, who had been affected by an injury picked up back in April, was given a place on the bench for his first involvement of the season.

Thistle started the brighter, with George Clark seeing his 25 yard drive magnificently tipped over by Hamish McAlpine in the ninth minute. United answered that threat by taking the lead a minute later. Eamonn Bannon swung in a free-kick to the far post and Paul Sturrock, running in behind the defence, blasted a shot high into the net from a few yards out. In the 22nd minute United almost grabbed a second, when John Lapsley was short with a pass-back. Willie Pettigrew back-heeled to Milne, but the midfielder didn't connect right and Alan Rough gathered easily. McAlpine then saved from Higgins as Thistle pushed for an equaliser, but United went further ahead six minutes before the interval. Sturrock romped down the right and lofted over a cross to the unmarked Eamonn Bannon who headered past Rough.

United kept a firm grip on the game during the second half, dealing easily with most of Thistle's efforts to get back into the game. The Glasgow side did manage to pull one back three minutes from the end, when 18 year old Maurice Johnston, making his debut from the bench, scored with a left foot drive. It was too little too late for Partick, and Brian Whittaker was booked for a foul on Sturrock before the end. United maintained their 100% start to the season, with four wins out of four in their League Cup group.