Dee stung by Thistle

PLAYERRATINGS Etxabeguren own goal sees Partick up into sixth

JUST when it seemed Dundee had found their groove in the Premiership, they were brought back to earth with a bump by an impressive Partick Thistle.

It’s amazing how things can change in the space of just three days.

On Saturday, the Dark Blues were absolutely flying after a 5-1 destruction of Motherwell at Fir Park and at home were on a seven-match unbeaten run in the league.

But all that’s been forgotten pretty quickly after a turgid performance against Partick last night.

In a game of few chances and not a huge amount of quality, Dundee were snuffed out by an organised and effective Thistle side.

Everything was a struggle for the home team — a far cry from the vibrant, attacking, clinical football they showed at Motherwell at the weekend.

Thistle came into the match on the back of three consecutive wins and, with them, three consecutive shutouts. And you could see why. Alan Archibald has his Jags well-drilled and it’s a real team effort from them.

They were set up to deny Dundee any space, forcing the home side to go long more often than they should have.

Targetman Marcus Haber has been the focal point for much of the Dark Blues’ good play of late.

He’s the starting point, get the ball up to him and feed off the knockdowns from the Canadian.

Partick were well aware of that, though, and had Haber wellmarshalled, getting on to any loose ball around him.

They also showed plenty of quality on the ball.

That resulted in the only goal of the game as striker Kris Doolan spun in behind Darren O’Dea, the Irishman beaten by the pass.

Thistle’s No 9 cut the ball across from the byline with Ryan Edwards waiting at the back post only to see Julen Etxabeguren cut the ball out but, in the process, find the corner of his own net.

It was unfortunate for the Basque defender after a run of good performances but things were to get worse for him.

With just less than 25 minutes to go, the centre-back dropped to the floor with nobody around him.

After a few minutes of treatment, he was stretchered off and, after the game, taken to hospital to assess the damage to his Achilles tendon.

With time running out, Dundee started to throw everything at the Thistle defence. O’Dea ended up as a striker up top with Haber and had the best opportunity to level the game.

With five minutes remaining, the Irishman leapt at the back post to meet Paul McGowan’s lofted cross but only succeeded in heading the ball down past the post.

There were a couple of nearly moments for Faissal El Bakhtaoui, who had replaced Henrik Ojamaa, with an acrobatic effort wide and a strong shot blocked but it was Partick’s night.

The break at the weekend might just be ideal for the Dark Blues to clear their heads a bit and clear any niggles picked up over a busy couple of weeks.

It was a poor night but the last time Thistle won at Dens in October, Dundee were left rock bottom on just six points from 11 games. At this moment, being two points off sixth with six games to go until the split would’ve been unthinkable.