3rd Aug 2002 Partick Thistle 0 Dundee United 0 (Scottish Premier League - game 1)

matches:2002-03: ← 05game 0607 →

61y, 5m, 1d	John Lambie	Alex Smith

Kevin Budinauckas; Alan Archibald
Kenny Arthur; Kenny Milne


Martin Hardie		Jim Lauchlan; Charlie Miller

Scott McLean (Paul Walker, 44 mins); Jamie Mitchell (Danny Lennon, 89 mins)		Tassos Venetis (Arnar Gunnlaugsson, 57 mins); Jim McIntyre (Jim Paterson, 82 mins); Charlie Miller (Derek Lilley, 89 mins)

27y, 10m, 18d	Kevin Budinauckas	Paul Gallacher future Jag
23y, 1m, 0d	James McKinstry	Jim Lauchlan
24y, 7m, 21d	Alan Archibald	Kevin McGowne future Jag
25y, 9m, 5d	Stephen Craigan	Danny Griffin
30y, 2m, 21d	Scott Paterson	Jamie McCunnie
25y, 8m, 28d	Jamie Mitchell	Stuart Duff
26y, 1m, 17d	Scott McLean	Tassos Venetis
26y, 3m, 12d	Martin Hardie	Charlie Miller
28y, 11m, 30d	Alex Burns	Craig Easton
25y, 4m, 0d	Jamie Buchan	Jim McIntyre
33y, 11m, 3d	Derek Whyte	Steven Thompson

27y, 1m, 1d

23y, 7m, 27d	Kenny Arthur	Paul Jarvie
21y, 5m, 30d	Ricky Waddell	David McCracken
20y, 5m, 1d	Andy S. Gibson	Jim Paterson
33y, 3m, 28d	Danny Lennon	Derek Lilley
24y, 11m, 14d	Paul Walker	Arnar Gunnlaugsson

TTA report

Thistle fought, chased and harried all afternoon and deserved the point. United fans taunted the home support about 16 May 1996. United missed a free header and play was scrappy from both teams. United edged things after half-time but there were few chances and Thistle ground out the draw.

Media report

03-Aug-2002, bbc.com

THISTLE AND UNITED DRAW BLANK. Premier League newcomers Partick Thistle fought out an opening day goalless draw against Dundee United at Firhill. The home side had the best of the game in terms of possession and pressure but could not find a way past a resolute United defence which was well marshalled by debutant Kevin McGowne.

In the opening stages both sides were lively and the game swung from end to end. First to threaten was United's Danny Griffin whose seventh minute free-kick from the left drew a good save from goalkeeper Kevin Budinauckas. At the other end, a driven ball from the right into the United box from Jamie Mitchell caused some problems for the visitors but United debutant Kevin McGowne cleared his lines. In the 15th minute Thistle striker Scott McLean cleverly knocked the ball back to Martin Hardie. The midfielder's shot from six yards out seemed like a certain goal. But United goalkeeper Paul Gallacher reacted quickly to make an impressive block, and the ball was eventually cleared. This sparked off a brief spell of Jags pressure. But the United rearguard, with McGowne settling in well, held firm. However, despite the entertainment value, clear-cut chances were few and far between. Thistle were beginning to dominate proceedings while the visitors were rarely in attacking mode and relied on the occasional counter-attack. In the 32nd minute, out of the blue, a snapshot by United's Griffin from 30 yards had Thistle keeper Kevin Budinauckas diving smartly down to his right hand post to smother.

A minute after the re-start, Charlie Miller watched as his weak effort went harmlessly past Thistle's post. But the home side still looked the hungrier side and soon had the visitors on the back foot again. However, United should have taken the lead in the 50th minute when a Griffin pass sent Tassos Venetis clear through on goal but the midfielder hesitated before shooting straight at Budinauckas from 10 yards out. Thistle shrugged of this defensive lapse and went back up the pitch looking for the opener but they lacked the necessary guile and invention. Thistle defender Alan Archibald had an effort from 25 yards skew wide after 62 minutes. Minutes later, Alex Burns' angled shot from just inside the box was easily saved by Gallacher. The visitors looked dangerous enough on the break but seemed happy with the point. In the closing stages, the pace of the game dropped and Lauchlan and McGowne continued to bar the door to the home side's attacks.

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