Dundee Utd 3
Partick Th 1
League (Premier Division)

Match Report

Thistle proved a much improved side from the one we defeated so comfortably at Firhill in February and had Alan Main not been in top form, we could easily have found ourselves trailing by a couple of goals as he made vital saves from Cameron and Farningham within the space of a few seconds. None-the-less, it was Thistle who found themselves in arrears after 36 minutes. Alex Cleland's cross from the right was met by Michael O'Neill at the far post and although Murdoch parried his header, the ball went on to the post and Paddy Connolly had the simple task of putting us ahead and, at that stage, probably against the run of play. Thistle's prospects dimmed even further just before the interval. First skipper Don McVicar was red-carded for a scything tackle on Alex Cleland and when the free kick was flighted over by Billy McKinlay, Michael O'Neill got in a header which Murdoch failed to keep out.

Thistle kept battling, but went further behind when Michael O'Neill timed his run on to a Gary Bollan chip to perfection and his ball into the middle was side footed home by Paddy Connolly. Ten man Thistle gained a measure of consolation with a fine individual goal by Gerry Button after he had run half the length of the park. "A performance from which I didn't derive too much pleasure," was manager Jim McLean's assessment, though like all United supporters, he wouldn't have quibbled with a result which completed a clean sweep over Thistle and put us in the driving seat for a European place after Hearts lost 6-0 to Falkirk at Brockville.