Dundee Utd 1
Partick Th 2
League Cup (Group B)

Match Report

United's plan for redemption at Tannadice on the back of their shock loss to Spartans in the League Cup ended in disappointment as a Brian Graham inspired Partick Thistle took the spoils in their latest Group B meeting.

Manager Jim Goodwin shuffled the pack after their weekend defeat to Spartans. Liam Grimshaw and Archie Meekison made way for the midfield pairing of Declan Glass and Craig Sibbald in the starting lineup, with Kai Fotheringham also getting the nod ahead of Glenn Middleton.

In the early stages of the game, it looked like the changes had paid dividends. Ten minutes in, Declan Glass was unlucky with an attempt inside the box, turning with his back to goal before firing over. Moments later, Kevin Holt headed over the bar from a corner.

United's early pressure paid off on 18 minutes and it was the persistence of Craig Sibbald to close down the Partick defence which permitted Glass to pick up the ball and cut it back to Sibbald for a simple left-foot finish that David Mitchell could do nothing about.

But it would become clear that this promising start wouldn't be the main story of the evening, as a former United forward was showing signs that he was in the mood for a goal.

Thistle captain Brian Graham will have felt he should have done better on 24 minutes though, when his shot from five yards out flew over the bar after good work from Ben Williamson to thread the ball into him. But the reprieve was only temporary as Graham bagged a worthy leveller eight minutes later, smashing past Jack Walton to cap off an easily worked goal for his side.

Thistle had a hold on the game by now, and United found themselves mostly on the back foot, looking frail and uneasy in the face of Partick pressure.

New signing Louis Moult made his first appearance in tangerine after replacing Tony Watt at the interval. It took him just nine minutes to try his luck on goal connecting with a surging run from Kai Fotheringham, but Mitchell in the Thistle goal saved well.

United's frailties in defence were becoming clear as Walton was called into action again to turn an Aaron Muirhead free kick away to safety after Ollie Denholm hauled Graham down on the edge of the box, seeing yellow for his trouble. Walton denied Thistle again from the corner, from a second attempt, Partick full-back Harry Milne rose to connect with a Steven Lawless delivery to make it 2-1.

It came as no surprise when Goodwin eventually replaced the young loanee Denholm with Ross Graham on the hour mark. The 21 year old had a torrid time of it and fans will hope that he will have better evenings in a tangerine shirt going forward.

With ten minutes to go, Glenn Middleton registered United's best hope of taking the match to penalties, firing a left-footed free kick just wide of the post after Muirhead had fouled Moult.

United once again left the field to jeers from the stands, having recorded a seventh successive defeat. The defeat – United's second in the League Cup – all but seals their exit from the competition, with games against Peterhead and Falkirk remaining.

Match report written by Niall Harkiss