Partick Thistle 3 United 0

There was no fairy tale for Tannadice legend Dave Bowman as caretaker boss as United slumped to a three goal defeat and to the foot of the Ladbrokes Premiership table. True, his pre-match preparations were dealt a blow with Billy Mckay’s injury and there was a further upset with the early enforced substitution of the injured Callum Morris. For the most part United were second best to a Thistle side whose performance belied them starting the day bottom of the table. By Peter Rundo Caretaker Manager Dave Bowman made three changes from the side that lost at Perth the previous week. Out went Mark Durnan, Adam Taggart and the injured Billy Mckay. In their place came Euan Spark, Darko Bodul and Ryan Dow in a 4-4-2 formation with skipper Sean Dillon reverting to central defence and partnering Callum Morris with Spark at left back; Spittal, Souttar, Fraser and Rankin made up the midfield with Bodul and Dow up front. United made an encouraging start with some neat build up play ending with Dow firing in a low drive which Cerny collected comfortably. But within just six minutes, there was a blow when Callum Morris limped off with Coll Donaldson replacing him. On 12 minutes Thistle threatened for the first time when Mathais Progba met a Stuart Brannigan corner but crashed the ball high into row Z. However, four minutes later the Jags were on target. Allan Booth and Sean Welsh combined with the former’s cross taking a deflection and Abdul Amoo heading home from close range. United responded with a fizzing 22-yarder from Dow which Cerny was at full stretch to tip over. But the Tangerines came perilously close to losing a second when Thistle broke from the corner and only the legs of Luis Zwick prevented Amoo scoring again with a low drive. And only another fine save by Zwick stopped a Welsh 25-yard free-kick. United continued to live dangerously with a Daniel Seaborne header coming off the bar and hitting Zwick before going out for a corner. Not that things were confined to the visitors' goal with Scott Fraser crashing a shot from 22 yards against a post after 28 minutes. A minute later a chance was lost when a Dow cut-back went behind Dodul. On 34 minutes of this end to end contest Liam Lindsay was the first player to be booked for a late challenge on Ryan McGowan and, a minute later, a Blair Spittal header drifted agonisingly wide of the far post. The home side survived a spell of United pressure and only McGowan’s presence prevented Progba from getting his head to a dangerous cross. Steven Lawless became the second to see yellow after 39 minutes. Three minutes from the interval, Spittal fired a first timer from distance but straight at Cerny. Still Thistle kept coming at United and Welsh fired wide of the far post. Half Time: Partick Thistle 1 United 0 After a quiet opening to the second half, Thistle were twice thwarted by late interventions from United defenders with Progba proving a handful. United’s luck ran out ten minutes after the restart when Dumbuya’s cross from the right went straight in with Zwick distracted by the presence of Lawless. And Lawless was next to have a go on the hour mark but though his shot was powerful enough it was straight at Zwick. Shortly afterwards, Aidan Connolly replaced Spark, but on 65 minutes poor defending let Thistle in for their third. Progba’s cross from the right was allowed to find its way to Brannigan who cut inside and curled the ball into the far corner from ten yards. Simon Murray replaced Darko Bodul with 20 minutes left and McGowan was the first United player to be booked for his challenge on Osman. Only Rankin’s clearance prevented it being four with ten minutes left. Just before the end Brannigan was yellow carded for a high challenge on Fraser and, right on time, Simon Murray was also booked for clattering into Cerny. Full Time: Partick Thistle 3 United 0 Teams: Partick Thistle: Cerny, Seaborne, Welsh, Booth, Osman, Amoo (Wilson 78), Brannigan, Lawless (Edwards 86), Dumbuya, Lindsay, Progba, (Doolan 81) Subs not used: Scully, Miller, Stevenson, Nisbet. United: Zwick, McGowan, Dillon, J Souttar, Rankin, Spittal, Dow, Morris (Donaldson), Fraser, Spark (Connolly 62), Bodul (Murray) Subs not used:  Szromnik, Telfer,  Taggart, Coote. Referee: Craig Thomson Attendance: 3675