Saturday 12th December, 2015 at 2:56pm
Thistle travelled to Tannadice to take on bottom-placed Dundee United, looking for a third consecutive in the Ladbrokes Premiership. The side knew they would be in for a tough afternoon with the Tayside outfit fighting for their lives at the bottom of the division.
Manager Alan Archibald made three changes to the side which had triumphed in style against Kilmarnock a fortnight ago. Tomas Cerny made a return in goal following a spell with injury, Robbie Muirhead was ineligible through the terms of his loan deal and Gary Fraser missed out having picked up an injury late in training on Friday afternoon.
United started the game as the stronger side with Sinama-Pongolle linking up well with Spittal and McKay in the early stages. His impact in the game was curtailed after ten minutes when he appeared to pick up a muscle injury.
Gunning fired over from a free kick on the very edge of the penalty area, while it took a good headed clearance from Kris Doolan to deny the Arabs from a corner kick.
Thistle were struggling to get a grip in the game as United imposed themselves on the midfield and when Thistle did manage to advance forward, poor deliveries squandered the opportunity. The game descended into a sloppy first half with Thistle the more relieved side at the break.
The second half sparked into life early, with Cerny having to react well to a Dixon effort which he saw extremely late on. Thistle broke up the part and after Bannigan picked out Doolan inside the box, the striker showed off his exceptional touch to fire the ball low beyond Szromnik into the corner of the net.
Thistle were high with confidence after the goal and Lawless nearly doubled the lead when his cut back was deflected onto the post via a good save from the goalkeeper. The game was becoming stretched and Thistle had a couple of good opportunities to extend the lead.
Equally, United fired efforts on the Thistle goal but from good positions Rankin shot wide on two occasion. Blair Spittal was the latest to have a dig on goal, but after a deflection, his shot bounced harmlessly wide of goal.
Thistle were becoming increasingly camped inside their own half, but from a Bannigan corner, Seaborne was unable to flick the ball goalwards.
Dundee United were winning lots of corners and from one Morris had a shot which appeared to strike the arm of Lindsay. Referee MacLean was unmoved and waved play on.
It was an extremely nervy finish to the game as Thistle were camped into their penalty area with last ditch clearances and blocks being the order of the day.
After almost four minutes of injury time, the shrill referee’s whistle pierced the air to signal another three precious points for Alan Archibald’s side.
