Partick Th 0
Dundee Utd 2
League (Premier Division)
Partick Th |
0 - 2 |
Dundee Utd |
 |
League (Premier Division) |
 |
| Goalscorers | |
| None. |
Willie Pettigrew (43) Ralph Milne (44) |
| Team Managers | |
| Peter Cormack |
Jim McLean |
| Starting Eleven | |
|
Alan Rough Dave McKinnon Brian Whittaker Jackie Campell Andy Anderson John Lapsley Donald Park Ian McDonald Alex O'Hara Kenny Watson Tony Higgins |
Hamish McAlpine Frank Kopel Iain Phillip Dave Narey John Holt Paul Hegarty Eamonn Bannon Ralph Milne Billy Kirkwood Willie Pettigrew Davie Dodds |
| Bench | |
|
George Clark Bobby Torrance |
Derek Stark Derek Addison |
| Substitutions | |
| George Clark for Tony Higgins |
Derek Stark for Paul Hegarty |
| Cautions | |
| Dave McKinnon |
Davie Dodds |
| Red Cards | |
| None. | None. |
| Match Officials | |
|
Louis Thow (Ayr) (Referee) |
Match Report
Bar the last two minutes before the interval, United found themselves well and truly under the cosh of this league fixture at Firhill. At that point there had been no scoring, so when the halftime whistle blew with United 2-0 ahead Thistle had every justification for feeling decidedly miffed!
A Higgins header had bounced on top of Hamish McAlpine's crossbar not once, but twice and the United keeper made a great save from Park and a superlative one form McDonald. However, with the first half drawing to a close, Paul Hegarty's long ball out of defence was beautifully flicked on by Davie Dodds to send Willie Pettigrew away. Rough saved his first shot with his feet, but Willie Pettigrew netted the rebound for his first goal of the year.
Just 60 seconds later Frank Kopel crossed from the left, Rough and Campbell converged on it, but Ralph Milne nipped in between them and his diving header left them and the Thistle fans astounded. Second half was very much favoured United. Willie Pettigrew missed several chances, but once again Hamish McAlpine was in fine form, making three brilliant saves to ensure that United took full points.
Squad Statistics (as at March 14th, 1981)
| 1980-81 | All Time | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age | Nat |  |
 |
|
|
|
| Hamish McAlpine (GK) | 33 |
|
45 | - | 454 | 3 |
| Iain Phillip | 30 |
|
37 | - | 86 | 1 |
| John Holt | 24 |
|
24 | 1 | 133 | 11 |
| Frank Kopel | 31 |
|
38 | - | 378 | 13 |
| Dave Narey | 24 |
|
43 | 2 | 327 | 22 |
| Paul Hegarty | 26 |
|
45 | 8 | 283 | 47 |
| Ralph Milne | 19 |
|
22 | 8 | 43 | 11 |
| Eamonn Bannon | 22 |
|
42 | 8 | 73 | 12 |
| Billy Kirkwood | 22 |
|
34 | 7 | 158 | 35 |
| Davie Dodds | 22 |
|
32 | 20 | 110 | 42 |
| Willie Pettigrew | 27 |
|
26 | 8 | 76 | 30 |
| Derek Stark (sub) | 22 |
|
27 | 1 | 109 | 3 |
League Table (as at March 14th, 1981)
| Pld | W | D | L | +/- | Pts | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Celtic | 27 | 20 | 2 | 5 | +36 | 42 |
| 2. | Aberdeen | 28 | 15 | 8 | 5 | +29 | 38 |
| 3. | United | 27 | 13 | 8 | 6 | +18 | 34 |
| 4. | Rangers | 26 | 11 | 10 | 5 | +21 | 32 |
| 5. | St Mirren | 28 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 30 |
| 6. | Airdrie | 29 | 8 | 9 | 12 | -11 | 25 |
| 7. | Partick Th | 28 | 8 | 9 | 11 | -11 | 25 |
| 8. | Morton | 28 | 8 | 7 | 13 | -16 | 23 |
| 9. | Hearts | 27 | 4 | 6 | 17 | -25 | 14 |
| 10. | Kilmarnock | 28 | 3 | 7 | 18 | -41 | 13 |
| League results since United's last match |
|---|
| 4th March 1981 |
|---|
| St Mirren | 2-1 | Airdrie |
| 7th March 1981 |
|---|
| Aberdeen | 4-1 | Hearts |
| Airdrie | 2-0 | Partick Th |
| St Mirren | 1-1 | Kilmarnock |
| 11th March 1981 |
|---|
| Airdrie | 3-0 | Kilmarnock |
| 14th March 1981 |
|---|
| Celtic | 7-0 | St Mirren |
| Hearts | 2-1 | Rangers |
| Kilmarnock | 1-0 | Aberdeen |
| Morton | 0-1 | Airdrie |
| Partick Th | 0-2 | Dundee Utd |