Dundee 4
Partick Thistle 1
League (Division One)

Match Report

Luck was definitely not on Thistle's side as they found themselves three down with a mere fifteen minutes on the clock!

Right from the off, the dark Blues were up for it. There was menace in their very first attack, Gordon Wallace almost scoring from the first corner won in the very first minute of the game.

However, a goal wasn't long delayed, although there was more than a piece of good fortune attached to it! Dave Johnston, always ready to venture forward, strode deep into the Thistle half, but his control let him down and a Thistle defender booted the ball clear. Unfortunately, for the Jag the ball struck Dave Johnston and deflected into the path of John Duncan who didn't look a gift horse in the mouth and first timed the ball past Alan Rough.

After ten minutes another sortie by Dave Johnston brought a second goal. A cross-ball was headed out and from 25 yards the intrepid defender blasted the ball past Alan Rough with the aid of a deflection off Alec Rae.

The rampant Dark Blues struck again five minutes later. Doug Houston forced the pace before his parting pass found John Duncan whose 20 yarder hit Strachan to once more leave Alan Rough helpless. Despite these set-backs, Partick refused to lie down. Glavin, Rae and Chalmers all gave the Dundee defence some sticky moments before Dundee re assumed control and deservedly grabbed a fourth on the stroke of half-time.

John Duncan completed his hat-trick with the Thistle defence all at seas as The Dark Blues left the field to standing ovation as they trooped off for a well earned cuppa.

Not showing any leniency, the home side began where they had left off when play re-started. A rocket-like shot from Gordon Wallace hit Alan Rough with the Jags keeper knowing little or nothing about it.

Thistle brought on the enigmatic Denis McQuade five minutes into the second half and he was soon to make his presence felt as Thistle turned up the heat.

Thomson Allan did well to hold a Ronnie Glavin shot before Thistle did pull one back in the 67th minute. Playing much more aggressively, Thistle deserved their consolation counter which came about after Thomson

Allan failed to hold an over-zealous passback from George Stewart and young Joe Craig was left with the simple task of netting.

Dundee were soon back humming around Rough's goal. The Thistle keeper doing well to hold a John Duncan header. Dave Johnston continued to upset the Thistle rearguard with his runs from deep and was decidedly unlucky not to score a second. Indeed, with Semple on for Bobby Ford, Dundee were unlucky not to add a fifth.

In the closing minutes John Duncan rounded the advancing Rough, but fell as he shot and the ball hit Rough and went wide.

So the Dark Blues had to be satisfied with a 4-1 victory as Thistle's tail of woe at Dens Park continued.

Match report written by Dundee Matchday Programme