One team in Glasgow Partick Thistle

Mark Roberts’ first half goal was enough to see Thistle return to the First Division with a win at Dens Park today. It was an excellent peformance, in a game that finished more nervously for the Jags than it probably should have.

With the supporter’s buses arriving slightly late at the ground due to a traffic accident, it was uplifting to be able to hear the Red and Yellow Army singing from the car park just outside the stadium as we approached the ground.

Thistle lined up in the 3-5-2 formation that Dick Campbell had used a couple of times in pre-season, with Scott McCulloch and Billy Gibson in the wide positions. Brown Ferguson assumed the central defensive position vacated by Marc Smyth, and an injury to Pat Keogh saw Graham Gibson and Simon Donnelly paired up front.

The opening stages of the match were fairly scrappy, with a couple of scares for the Thistle defence in the form of a Scott Boyd pass back that Kenny Arthur had to react quickly to clear, and a Bobby Mann header from a long throw that went over the bar after 8 minutes. Dundee were playing a lot of very long balls that missed out their midfield, and in the absence of any recognisable target man, Thistle began to dominate possession and pose more of a threat.

They created the first clear chance, when a fast counter-attack started by Jimmy Gibson set Donnelly away down the right hand side, and although he lacked the pace to move in on goal himself, he showed great vision to see Darren Brady bursting into the area. Unfortunately, as we have seen before, while Brady showed that he has the ability to time his runs into the box to perfection, his finish when faced with Dundee substitute goalie Murray lacked composure and was comfortably saved. Darren deserves enormous credit for going on to have what I would consider his best match for Thistle.

If that was a warning shot for Dundee, it was one that was not heeded, as Thistle scored what turned out to be the winning goal in 28 minutes. Graham Gibson did exceptionally well, again down the Dundee right, and his cutback found Mark Roberts, and last seasons top scorer needed no second invitation to open his account for this campaign.

The away fans certainly enjoyed that goal, but their attention was soon focused upon referee Mike Ritchie, with half-time approaching and Thistle controlling the game completely. Graham Gibson again did well to beat the Dundee defence to a hopeful through ball, and appeared to be fouled in what seemed a certain red card. Perhaps the prospect of issuing the straight red was what deterred Ritchie, as no decision was given. A Roberts header across goal, as Thistle continued to threaten, was the last meaningful effort of the half, and the players deserved the standing ovation they received as they exited the pitch in front of the Jags fans.

Those of us who become extremely irritable if unable to obtain a pie at half time were given plenty of ammunition on this occasion, with no pies available. This annoyance was soon forgotten as Thistle began the second half in a similar style to the way they had ended the first, but two glaring misses in the first twenty minutes of the second period left many wondering if a failure to close out the game may prove an expensive failing.

The first chance fell to Jimmy Gibson, outstanding alongside Brady in central midfield, but his shot when faced with Murray after a superb link-up with Donnelly, was weak and easily saved. The second chance, after 70 minutes, fell to Donnelly himself, after Graham Gibson broke clear and laid the ball into his path. A slight deflection on the pass meant it did not sit ideally as Donnelly would have liked, and there were heads in hands all round as it slipped past the post.

Dundee were always going to have a spell of sustained pressure, and as the Jags fans began to glance anxiously at their watches, this pressure intensified. A desperate goal-line clearance from a Bryan Deasley shot was the first effort to worry Arthur, and Gary McKenzie then headed over after a cross from the Dundee right, from a position he really should have done better from.

The last few minutes saw the Dundee pressure ease, and Thistle were able to emerge from the base camp they had set up around the edge of our own area. Graham Gibson, despite being clearly shattered, was able to collect a couple of clearances, and he was aided by John McGoldrick, who had arrived in place of Mark Roberts. A McGoldrick shot that deflected over was the last real action at either end, and Thistle were able to celebrate starting the season with a precious away win.

Man of the match:
JIMMY GIBSON - There were no failures in the Jags team today. The work rate and commitment was extremely good, typified by the central midfield pairing of Brady and Jimmy Gibson, and up front through Graham Gibson, who chased everything and competed very well in the air. Jimmy just edges it though – his performance was summed up by his willingness, with Thistle under a lot of pressure, to throw himself full length and block a Kevin McDonald shot.

Thistle: Arthur 7, Sives 8, McCulloch 7 (Hodge 79), Boyd 7, Ferguson 7, Brady 8, J Gibson 8, Donnelly 7 (Kane 75), G Gibson 8, Roberts 7 (McGoldrick 77), B Gibson 7.
Unused subs; Tuffey, Strachan

Dundee: Roy (Murray 10), Griffin, Dixon, Rae, MacKenzie, Mann (C Macdonald 46), Harris, K McDonald, Deasley, Trialist (Swankie 52), Gates.
Unused subs; Robertson, McNally