Dundee 2 - 1 Partick Thistle
(Grifiths 16) (Hodge 60)
(Adams 86)
Dens Park
November 6th 2010
3pm
Att:6022
Ref: Charlie Richmond
By Fraser Craig
Another chapter in the ongoing Dundee FC soap opera at Dens Park as Dundee faced Partick Thistle at Dens. A red card protest organised against the SFL over a points deduction, that was almost matching the temperatures, had all 4 stands on their feet making their feelings known prior to kick off. Once again a game in Dundee FC's history that meant a lot more than just picking up 3 points. Over 6000 were packed in to voice their concerns and in true Dundee fashion we did not make it easy for ourselves.
Dundee were at Partick from the first whistle and went close a few times in the opening minutes. Nicky Riley tried his luck with Irvine trying to chip ex Dundee goalkeeper Scott Fox, followed up by a Nicky Riley volley from all of 6 yards which really should have been the opener.
Dundee controlled the early stages but it was a Partick venture forward that led to the opening goal. A weak header through was picked up by Robert Douglas in the box and his quick throw out saw Nicky Riley break to the half way line, his ball inside was taken forward but Leigh Griffiths who struck an exquisite low drive from 40 yards into Fox's left hand corner.
Not for the first time this season, Bobby Douglas had a pivitol role to play in keeping the visitors out. A seemingly harmless cross from the right took an swerve towards goal and Douglas tipped over to make sure the danger was clear. From the resultant corner Martin Hardie's goalbound header was tipped wide.
The first half performance from Dundee was one of the best I had seen this season, Smith has the players playing some nice passing football and a good move saw Dundee win a free kick on the edge of the Partick area. Higgins managed to get his shot over the wall and down, but just passed the right post.
At the other end Rab Douglas spilled a cross, but the ball could not be turned in and then Thistle's closest chance of the half when Buchannan curled the ball just wide of Douglas' post.
Dundee had a few corners and free kicks as they kept up the pressure with little end product to show. The half ended with a booking for skipper Gary Harkins, leaving his leg in during a 50/50 challenge. A determined performance by the Dark Blues and deservedly in the lead at half time.
Ian McCall's half time team talk inspried Partick and they began the second half looking a lot better than the first. The travelling fans felt they should have had a penalty in 50 minutes when Buchannan went down in the box, and given the decisions during the Dunfermline game you would not have been surprised to see it given. Thankfully referee Charlie Richmond waved away the visitors protests.
Partick equalised in the 62nd minute, a corner sent in was knocked to the edge of the area and Thistle substitute Bryan Hodge drilled home through a crowd of bodies.
The Dark Blues almost hit back within minutes, Harkins lined up a free kick on the edge of the box and the shot was inches wide, with a few in the ground almost certainly believing it was in.
The game became scrappy after this with both sides going for the points, Cairney shot just over for Partick and at the other end Griffiths tried a neat head flick from close range which Fox did well to hold with a diving header.
A low shot from Gary Irvine had Fox at full stretch to keep out and at the other end one of the saves of the season from Big Rab to stop Boyle's netbound effort.
Dundee appeared to be heading for a fourth draw in succession since entering administration until the 86th minute. Some great passing football across the box from either end had Partick camped out in their own box, Harkins finds room to cross from the right which sails over to Lockwood on the left. His strike across goal is cut deflected into the net by on loan Jamie Adams to send the 4 sides of the ground into complete ecstacy.
All Dundee had to do now was keep out any attack from Thistle and the nerves of the fans were tested in the last minute. Bobby Douglas pulled of an even better save than the one 20 minutes prior and the stramash that followed was intense but finally cleared by Gary Harkins. You could be forgiven for believing we had scored again.
Charlie Richmond blows for full time two minutes later and the Dees have secured a major win and stuck 2 fingers up to the SFL.
Unanimous decision to award the MOM to Jamie Adams, he looked up for the game from the off and played some excellent football, rounded off with his priceless goal towards the end.
A huge weight off the managers shoulders to get the first win and the support given to the team was huge.
A dressing room full of confidence, belief and knowing how much this means to the fans can now march on to Dingwall next week and pcik up our first away win of the season.