Dundee finished the season with a lacklustre performance in a 1-0 defeat at Dens against Partick Thistle. Kris Doolan scored the goal that ensured Thistle were safe from automatic relegation and put them into the play-off against Livingston. An understrength Dundee team couldn’t raise themselves to save the game, which the Jags saw out without too much trouble.
The Dark Blues made four changes after securing their Premiership place at Ross County on Tuesday. In goal 19 year old Calum Ferrie started his first match as did Daniel Jefferies at centre back. Genseric Kusunga also came back along with Roarie Deacon. Darren O’Dea was suspended, Elliott Paris and Randy Wolters moved onto the bench and Steven Caulker was injured. Thistle’s two changes were Steven Lawless and Miles Storey coming in for Chris Erskine and Kris Doolan.
Both clubs went close in the first couple of minutes. Simon Murray flashed in a low shot that picked up a deflection sending it a couple of feet beyond the far post. Thistle responded with an attack down the left that ended with Calum Ferrie making a good save to touch Adam Barton’s header over the bar.
After that fast start the first half was interesting rather than thrilling, with a distinct shortage of the manic, physical football that so often features in high pressure relegation battles. The Dark Blues were playing some attractive football in the sun, but without the urgency they have been showing recently.
At times it was hard to believe there was so much at stake for the visitors. All their effective attacking came down the right wing from where they put in some promising crosses. There was rarely a Jags player far enough forward to take advantage, however.
Dundee should have taken the lead midway through the second half when Paul McGowan made space to advance into the penalty area. His shot had plenty of power, but was too close to Tomas Cerny who saved.
McGowan didn’t last much longer, and limped off 10 minutes from the interval to be replaced by Randy Wolters, who went to the left with Craig Wighton adopting a more central role.
Thistle’s best chance of the half came shortly before the break when Dundee failed to clear Edwards’ cross from the right. The ball broke to Myles Storey, who thrashed it wastefully wide of the post. That was his last contribution and he was substituted at half time by Blair Spittal.
The Jags greater urgency towards the end of the first half was carried forward into the second period. Dundee had looked the better team before the interval, but faded badly afterwards.
Early in the half Ferrie made another good save, pushing a Devine header from a corner over the crossbar. The Dark Blues then had their only dangerous spell of the second half, with some promising runs and crosses by Wolters that came to nothing.
Dundee’s central midfield was performing well below their usual standard with the ball being given away far too often, by careless passes and lack of concentration. Cammy Kerr raised the crowd briefly with a burst from defence through the middle, finishing with a long range shot that flew over the bar.
Thistle made a crucial substitution after 55 minutes, bringing on their long-serving goal-scoring hero Kris Doolan, and he obliged with the winning goal seven minutes later.
Simon Murray had dropped back into midfield but gave the ball away on the half way line. Thistle took full advantage and Steven Lawless sent DOOLAN clear to stab the ball past Ferrie for the winner.
The goal allowed Thistle to settle and play their most composed football of the match. A disjointed Dundee team never seriously troubled them and the remaining half hour was short of chances and action. That hardly worried the noisy Jags’ support who rightly became increasingly confident as time ticked by.
Simon Murray cut inside and saw a shot blocked, with Thistle eventually clearing from the resulting scramble. Randy Wolters saw his low drive from the angle of the penalty area pushed round the post by Cerny. That was about all Dundee had to offer.
Cedwyn Scott came on for the last half hour, but the youngster was offered very poor service from the midfield and saw little of the ball.
Loud cheering from the away fans in injury time signalled that St Johnstone had equalised against Ross County, confirming that Thistle would not finish bottom. The Jags were given no late problems by the lifeless Dees, who failed to muster any serious threat to Cerny’s goal.
Thistle now go into the play-off and will feel confident after this well deserved win. They paced the game well, and improved steadily throughout. The same can’t be said for the Dee who faded badly with a youthful team. The youngsters were certainly not at fault today. Senior players who have given sterling service all season were short of their best today and the points rightly went to the team that wanted them most.
Dundee FC 4-2-3-1
Parish
Kerr, Kusunga, Jefferies, Holt
Spence, Kamara
Deacon (El Bakhtaoui 74), McGowan (c) (Wolters 35), Wighton (Scott 60)
Murray
Unused subs: Parish (gk), Curran, Aurtenetxe, Moore.
Booked: none.
Partick Thistle 4-2-3-1
Cerny
McGinn, Devine, Cargill, Elliott
Barton, Woods
Lawless, Edwards (Doolan 55), Storey (Spittal at half time)
Sammon (Osman 90)
Unused subs: Scully (gk), Dumbuya, Erskine, Penrice.
Goal: Doolan (62).
Booked: Storey (dissent).
Attendance: 6,756 (969 away fans).
Referee: Steven McLean. Assistants: Alan Mulvanny, Graeme Leslie. 4th official: Alan Newlands.
Report: James Christie.
