One team in Glasgow Partick Thistle

Questions. I pondered several on way through to Dens Park.

1. Would the Boxing Day rest improve our chances against Dundee?
2. Would the players believe they could be promotion challengers in light of recent results?
3. Would Thistle be able to improve their performance over the horror show at Dens in August?
4. Would the high occurrence of red cards in this fixture in recent times be continued today?
5. Could Alex Rae get through the game without spitting the proverbial dummy?
6. Would the worst stewards and police of any ground we visit carry on their proud tradition of over zealous stewarding bordering on harassment?By the end of an absorbing 90 minutes, all of the answers were known.

This report should be preceded by great praise for the players efforts today and praise also to McCall for continuing to pursue victory even when down to ten men.

As I always sit in the same seat at Dens, I have over time absorbed the one man crusade against the Thistle support by steward number eleven, a sort of cross between The Grinch and an extra aggressive Chuck Norris. Every game he comes closer to starting trouble than stopping it and today was no different as supporters doing no harm to anyone were chased away from the seats beside their friend in a wheelchair. Needless. Lacking commonsense. Question 6 answered and the game had not even started yet.

It was a surprise to see Di Giacomo in for Roberts in the Thistle line up and Hinchcliffe was in goal in a rather tight and undersized green kit. For Dundee, Bob Davidson replaced the suspended Derek Lyle.

The first action of note involved Scott Chaplain who made a trademark run into the Dundee box before being clattered, and just prior to this Dundee had been in the Jags box but Archibald had defended intelligently.

The opening sparring saw little goalmouth action, until after 16 minutes Sturm flashed a header from a Swankie corner just wide. Dundee really had the majority of possession at this stage and the Thistle defensive unit were working hard to repel attack after attack.

Thistle clearly had a plan from kick outs to target McKinlay to flick on and from one such kick, after some good build up play involving McKinlay and Chaplain, the ball was laid back to Rowson whose shot from the edge of the box was pulled wide.

Thistle were coming more into the game and after good play by Robertson and Buchanan, Thistle looked like they had sprung the offside trap but unfortunately Harkins overhit the through ball woefully.

After 28 minutes, some good build up play by Dundee led to McDonald bundling the ball into the net at the back post but was adjudged offside which must have been a very tight decision. Thistle then had a series of corners and these caused problems, remarkable as every Thistle player was marked by a taller opponent.

McDonald got in a great position for Dundee but, with the offside flag not raised this time, he shot weakly into Hinchcliffe’s arms. The game was now open and Kinniburgh resorted to making a foolish and needless challenge on Swankie and picked up the first yellow card of the afternoon. The resulting free kick was cleared and Thistle broke at pace with Harkins feeding Chaplain whose stinging shot was well saved by Samson. It was now end to end stuff and an entertaining game. But we all know referees don’t like too much entertainment in football and were about to find out the answer to question 4.

Five minutes before half time, Kinniburgh got his legs tangled whilst on the ground with a Dundee player and off the ball was adjudged to have tripped the Dundee player to prevent his run into the box. For this Kinnburgh seemed to get a straight red card. From the resulting free kick, Hinchcliffe made a good save after the ball hit the wall and nearly looped in just under the bar. The referee still had time to further endear himself to Thistle fans before half time, over-ruling his assistant to give Dundee a corner.

There were surprisingly no changes at half time, Harkins dropping back from midfield and Di Giacomo playing a bit deeper in second half. Similarly to the first half there was little action of note for quarter of an hour or so before the game exploded into an entertaining last half hour.

Roberts replaced the ineffectual Di Giacomo and Harkins was booked for a challenge on McDonald (who was rampaging about the pitch, what a good prospect he looks).

Thistle began to win some decisions from the referee and Harkins delivered one free kick too close to the keeper and then from a more central one moments later from about 35 yards made Samson work. Swankie had a good effort for Dundee go just wide.

McDonald picked up a booking after 68 minutes for a cynical foul on Buchanan. About 25 yards out and fairly central it looked made for Harkins, but instead Twaddle delivered a pathetic free kick. Dundee threw Daquin on for Worrell clearly in an attempt to win the game and McCall responded by replacing Chaplain with Storey.

Some good Thistle build up play resulted in Roberts getting a shot on target but it was comfortably saved by Samson at his near post. Another Harkins free kick from a wide area was delivered too close to the Dundee keeper however Buchanan was clearly having his shirt tugged in the box as he pursued the ball but did not go down – evidently he had learned from his opponents masterclass in this all afternoon.

Into the final ten minutes, Dundee hot the bar and the rebound was headed into the net but the assistant who minutes earlier had been receiving an earful from Mr Rae (question 5 answered) disallowed it for the player following up being offside.

Robertson then had a shot from a half cleared corner which dipped just over the bar as Thistle continued to chase all three points. Storey then got free down the left and his cross had Samson struggling, and he could only tip it over the bar for a corner. Harkins swung the corner in and as the ball bounced free about four yards out Buchanan stooped to head it into the waiting net but a subtle nudge meant he failed to connect.

Hinchcliffe made another good save in the dying moments of the 90; he had turned in a superb goal-keeping performance, kicking apart. Then in injury time, the sickener, the cruel blow. Daquin’s run was halted by Twaddle but he cleared poorly and was not quick enough to chase Daquin as he retrieved the ball and fed McDonald who drove a shot inside the near post – question 1 answered, Dundee were not tired and could keep going for the full 90 minutes.

There was still time for the brave ten men to have another effort, after good work by Roberts set up Buchanan but the ball would just not fall kindly for him.

This was a brave effort with the defence in particular standing up well. It was unfortunate and unlucky to lose in that way but preferable to go down fighting than sitting back and inviting the hammer blow. In comparison to August, Thistle were far ahead of the performance that day – question 3 answered.

As for question 2, it remains to be seen, but it looks unlikely now after todays result and another win for Hamilton and perhaps third would be a credible achievement to aim for this season with a push for promotion next season. The players, management and support all excelled today and if they continue to play this way they will win more than they lose in the remainder of the season.

The usual suspects were excellent – Rowson and Archibald. Hinchcliffe turned in a good performance. McKinlay was excellent in the first half. Chaplain and Robertson played well and Buchanan never stopped grafting all game.

Man of the match: Alan Archibald