The Thistle Archive

Thistle travelled to Dens Park to take on Dundee looking for a vast improvement in performance after a disappointing second half performance against Hearts last Saturday at Firhill. Manager Alan Archibald, was forced into a goalkeeping change with Paul Gallacher coming in for his first appearance since a 1-0 loss to Ross County in March. The other change came at the other end of the pitch with Kris Doolan preferred to Mathias Pogba as the lone striker. Dundee started the game stronger with Healey posing problems in the opening couple of minutes, forcing a low save from the veteran goalkeeper with barely two minutes played. Thistle continued to be under pressure before a break down the right hand side resulted in the opening corner of the game. Stuart Bannigan’s corner was met by Liam Lindsay in the box and he headed his first Thistle goal past Bain to give Thistle the lead. The loss of an early goal didn’t deter Dundee who continued to apply pressure on Thistle but Paul Gallacher was more than equal to anything that reached himself in the Thistle goal. Thistle were reliant on counter attacks with Bannigan finding a shot from the edge of the box, blocked by the feet of a defender. Thistle forays into the Dundee half were being restricted by a determined Dundee side who saw their latest effort, from McGowan, well save by the feet of Gallacher. As Thistle broke through Amoo, he had plenty of options but played his pass too late allowing Kris Doolan to stray offside to curtail the attack. Amoo was proving a danger to Dundee down the right hand side and from another excellent cross Doolan was unlucky not to be able to force the ball over the line from close range as Thistle saw out an excellent first half that ended with Dundee booing their side off the pitch. Dundee came out with renewed vigour at the start of the second half and threw players forward with a determination to grab the equalising goal. Thistle were dealing well with the aerial threat being posed with the delivery of set pieces deep into Thistle’s box. When the Dees did manage to trouble Gallacher in the Thistle goal, he was proving to be more than equal to their efforts. Thistle were still proving a menace on the counterattack and after Stuart Bannigan accumulated his sixth booking of the league season meaning he will miss the next league fixture, Gary Fraser fired a spectacular effort which Bain did well to tip over the crossbar. With time running out Dundee kept pounding the Thistle goal and after a series of near misses, they finally bagged the equalising goal with just over five minutes remaining. Dundee gathered a loose ball just outside the box, tempting Paul McGowan to slot a pass to Stewart. His poor touch flicked the ball into Kane Hemmings who needed no second invitation to finish low past Gallacher. No Thistle player appealed for offside with Gary Fraser playing the former Thistle trialist onside. No sooner had they been pegged back, than Ryan Stevenson almost regained the lead with a low effort from 20 yards which Bain did well to parry away. The game finished on an end to end frantic conclusion but last ditch defending from both sides meant there was to be no further goals and Thistle were forced to settle for a point.

ptfc.co.uk

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LIAM BREAKS HIS DUCK

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