Dundee United 1-0 Partick Thistle
By Jim Spence
BBC Sport
- From the section Football
Nadir Ciftci's late spot kick ensured Dundee United picked up all three points against Partick Thistle.
The Turkish forward converted coolly after he was brought down by Danny Seaborne, who was red-carded for denying a goal-scoring opportunity.
Christie Elliot went closest for Thistle with a long-range effort that rattled the bar.
The win leaves Jackie McNamara's Tangerines just a point adrift of league-leaders Hamilton.
United, however, were far from at their free-flowing best.
Thistle threatened first after eight minutes with a Kris Doolan curler that keeper Radoslaw Cierzniak tipped round a post, but the hosts replied immediately through a Ciftci shot which Scott Fox saved easily.
Elliott forced a low save from Cierzniak, then Ciftci hit the side netting after latching on to Gary Mackay-Steven's pass.
Stuart Armstrong embarked on a run and fired wide as the home side tried to assert themselves, before Partick keeper Fox raced from his line to deny the onrushing Mackay-Steven.
And the Jags number one was called into action again just before the break to deny Ciftci with a great stop after the Turk was played in by Armstrong.
Cierzniak was busy in the opening period of the second half to keep out Doolan and Steven Lawless, and Ciftci again tested Fox with a shot on the turn.
Thistle were looking sharp in the opening stages of the second period and Stephen O'Donnell drilled a shot across goal that drifted narrowly wide.
Elliott then hit the bar with a wicked shot from the left as Thistle pushed for the opening goal.
United, however, grabbed the winner with seven minutes left after Seaborne tripped Ciftci in the box and the striker got up to bury the spot-kick.
It was a sickening blow for the visitors who will feel they deserved to take something from the game.
Line-ups
Dundee Utd
- 1Cierzniak
- 12WatsonBooked at 76mins
- 5Fojut
- 14Morris
- 2Dillon
- 6PatonSubstituted forDowat 64'minutes
- 8RankinBooked at 90mins
- 17ErskineSubstituted forConnollyat 80'minutes
- 10ArmstrongSubstituted forSpittalat 69'minutes
- 11Mackay-Steven
- 7Ciftci
Substitutes
- 3Townsend
- 18Dow
- 21Telfer
- 22Connolly
- 23Smith
- 24Spittal
- 26Szromnik
Partick Thistle
- 1Fox
- 2O'Donnell
- 3SeaborneBooked at 83mins
- 6Balatoni
- 16McMillanBooked at 28minsSubstituted forCarrollat 80'minutes
- 8BanniganBooked at 86mins
- 18OsmanBooked at 70mins
- 7Craigen
- 11LawlessSubstituted forMcDaidat 88'minutes
- 14Elliott
- 9DoolanSubstituted forStevensonat 80'minutes
Substitutes
- 10Stevenson
- 12Gallacher
- 13Frans
- 17Carroll
- 19Eccleston
- 23Wilson
- 28McDaid
- Referee:
- Steven McLean
- Attendance:
- 6,756
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home47%
- Away53%
- Shots
- Home10
- Away12
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away4
- Corners
- Home4
- Away7
- Fouls
- Home7
- Away11