McGowan ashamed after United horror show
AS it transpired, Partick Thistle’s decision to hand out free footballs to supporters prior to this match was just the second most notable act of largesse on show. Dundee United’s willingness to trade places with the Maryhill men at the foot of the Premiership table proved the most welcome of gifts before the international recess. For Dave Bowman, the one-time tigerish Tannadice midfielder with the misfortune to take temporary charge at the weekend, the poverty of the performance from first minute to last was deeply wounding. The 51-year-old described his side as ‘weak’, ‘gutless’ and ‘a soft touch’ in the aftermath. He might well have added ineffective, impotent and error-strewn. Because for the sizeable travelling support expecting to see their side respond positively to the dismissal of Jackie McNamara, this was just about as bad as it gets. If Bowman will be a touch relieved that, in all likelihood, this was his one and only game in charge, then the United legend must privately harbour genuine fears that relegation — a fate he suffered back in 1995 — is a distinct possibility. In dismissing McNamara, chairman Stephen Thompson stated that his successor (St Johnstone boss Tommy Wright looks set to get a call this week) would still have to oversee a cull to reduce the 51 professionals on the club’s books. For the dejected United fans, the debate was not who they would lose but rather who they would keep. That said, once the new man is appointed, it is beyond dispute that there is no little talent within the squad for him to work with. But talent without application is utterly pointless. Bowman was bang on in his assessment. But let this be said loud and clear; Partick Thistle were absolutely excellent here. Having commendably stuck to their guns by continuing to pass the ball for fun of late despite being anchored to the bottom of the table, only a heart of stone would have denied Alan Archibald this vital, resounding win. Finally off the bottom of the Premiership and having doubled their ‘goals for’ tally in one afternoon, suddenly anything seems possible. The contrast with the side they simply rolled over the top of could hardly have been be sharper. ‘It was embarrassing, to be
honest,’ lamented United defender Ryan McGowan. ‘It wasn’t good enough from start to finish. It doesn’t matter who is in charge — it’s the players’ responsibility. ‘We need to apologise to the fans as there was a good travelling support who follow us everywhere. And that wasn’t good enough. ‘There’s no point saying we’ve got good players when you see performances like that. It was unacceptable and changes really do need to be made. Everyone has to look themselves in the mirror. ‘We need to make sure we’re 100 per cent in training for whoever comes in as manager.’ United’s afternoon could hardly have had a worse start when they lost the experienced Callum Morris to a knock just six minutes in. Coll Donaldson, a decent but callow defender, was summoned from the bench and nine minutes later Thistle’s superiority paid dividends. Callum Booth and Sean Welsh played a textbook one-two in the opposing box. Booth’s cross clipped a defender and hung high in the air. United goalkeeper Luis Zwick failed to punch clear and David Amoo headed home from close range. Mustapha Dumbuya crowned an outstanding display at right-back by converting with a shot-cum-cross on 55 minutes, while Stuart Bannigan compounded United’s misery with a calm finish 10 minutes later following more brutal defending. There remains much work to be done but, given the scrutiny the Jags boss was under going into this, he is entitled to a few days of quiet satisfaction. ‘It’s probably the biggest game since I came here,’ said midfielder Abdul Osman. ‘We’ve been underperforming. This game was more important for the manager than for us. So we’ll dedicate this win to him.’