Relief for Archibald as Jags pile pain on United
Timely win eases heat on Archibald
ALAN ARCHIBALD had bemoaned the pressure spotlight shifting straight on to him on account of the dismissals last week of Ian Baraclough and Jackie McNamara.
Thanks to a trio of goals — as many as they had hitherto managed this season — the unforgiving glare moved right along past Firhill yesterday.
Archibald can enjoy the international break without imminent fear of any questions being asked of his ability to move Partick Thistle clear of the relegation picture.
Leaping above their dreadful opponent to relegate managerless United to that basement slot was thoroughly deserved and probably overdue on the balance of their performances.
A first league victory at home over United since 1995 was aided by a side that failed to respond to John Rankin’s rallying cry for players to seize responsibility in the wake of McNamara’s exit.
They were branded ‘a weak team’ by furious caretaker Dave Bowman. Sean Dillon described the display as ‘unacceptable’.
If any of chairman Stephen Thompson’s targets opted to watch, they won’t be in a hurry to pitch up at Tannadice because there was a distressing lack of heart to go with the dearth of confidence.
What a contrast to Thistle’s energy, exemplified by scoring full-back Mustapha Dumbuya, whose display down the right flank belied his lack of a pre-season.
‘That was similar to some of our performances but we got the rewards we deserved,’ enthused Archibald. ‘Morale has been low on some Monday mornings. It’s not been nice. We kept them positive.
‘But the hard work will continue during the international break. We are second bottom for a reason and want to build on that result.’
The break gives Thompson time to find a boss and interim coach Bowman believes the quality exists within the squad to give a new appointment a chance to arrest the slide. Whether they possess the character to do so is questionable.
‘Every time the ball dropped in the second half, Thistle picked it up,’ complained Bowman. ‘They had more desire. It was very poor. You’ve got to have a strong character.
‘They’re not bad players. Whoever comes in has a good squad but the players have to take responsibility themselves. I hear it from other clubs — that United can play for an hour but they’re a soft touch. I agree and I find that fact hard to accept.
‘We’re not asking them to fight each other, just to get each other motivated and ask each other questions. We don’t have that.’
Thistle’s first effort, from Mathias Pogba, sailed 10 yards over the bar to rather sum up the lack of cutting edge about this year’s Jags.
However, their motivation and industry created enough chances and, from the moment they spooked a fragile defence into folding on 15 minutes, this was to be their long-awaited day.
A feeble response from United goalkeeper Luis Zwick to Callum Booth’s lofted delivery into his sixyard box enabled David Amoo to nod home without any resistance.
The young German keeper did at least keep United in the game in the first period — a brilliant save from a 25-yard Sean Welsh set-piece and fine left-foot block to deny Amoo.
Most of United’s responses came from the crafty feet of Scott Fraser. He rattled the frame of Tomas Cerny’s goal.
But they did not have an answer to the drive of Dumbuya and he topped his display with a 55th-minute goal.
His low ball into the area looked more of a delivery than a dig. He admitted it was ‘flukey’ but Thistle were due fortune and Zwick was beaten.
Stuart Bannigan rounded off the win. Under the less than careful watch of Ryan McGowan, who missed an opportunity to cut off Pogba’s cross, the midfielder steered home a composed finish.
‘We can only climb this table,’ said Dumbuya. ‘There are only two or three teams that are better than us football-wise.’