3rd May 2024 Dundee United 4 Partick Thistle 1 (SPFL Championship - game 36)

matches:2023-24: ← 46game 4748 →

	Jim Goodwin	Kris Doolan	37y, 4m, 22d

		Ross Stewart; Daniel O'Reilly; Ben Stanway; Zander MacKenzie; Ricco Diack; Blair Alston
		David Mitchell; Luke McBeth; Aaron Muirhead; Scott Robinson; Brian Graham; Aidan Fitzpatrick

Craig Sibbald (1-1, 42 mins); Kai Fotheringham (1-2, 59‎ mins); Tony Watt (1-3, 69‎ mins); Louis Moult (1-4, pen 83 mins)‎		Ben Stanway (1-0, 13‎ mins)
Tony Watt (1-1, 42 mins); Louis Moult (1-2, 59‎ mins); Scott McMann (1-3, 69‎ mins); none (1-4, pen 83 mins)‎		none (1-0, 13‎ mins)


Sam McLelland (Kevin Holt, 60 mins); Ross Docherty (David Wotherspoon, 60 mins); Ross Graham (Declan Gallagher, 60 mins); Kai Fotheringham (Mathew Anim Cudjoe, 67 mins); Liam Grimshaw (Miller Thomson, 74 mins); Tony Watt (Rory MacLeod, 74 mins)		Kerr McInroy (Harry Milne, 55 mins); Jack McMillan (Ceiran Loney, 67 mins); Ricco Diack (Aidan Fitzpatrick, 76 mins); Ben Stanway (Ché Campbell, 81 mins)

	Jack Walton	Ross Stewart	29y, 0m, 23d
	Liam Grimshaw	Jack McMillan	26y, 4m, 15d
	Scott McMann	Kieran Ngwenya	21y, 7m, 8d
	Sam McLelland	Lewis Neilson	20y, 11m, 18d
	Ross Graham	Daniel O'Reilly	29y, 0m, 22d
	former Jag Ross Docherty	Stuart Bannigan	31y, 7m, 16d
	Craig Sibbald	Ben Stanway	19y, 7m, 13d
	Kai Fotheringham	Zander MacKenzie	18y, 8m, 5d
	Louis Moult	Ricco Diack	18y, 11m, 26d
	future Jag Tony Watt	Kerr McInroy	23y, 8m, 2d
	Glenn Middleton	Blair Alston	32y, 1m, 10d

			24y, 8m, 14d

	Jack Newman	David Mitchell	34y, 0m, 29d
	former Jag Kevin Holt	Harry Milne	27y, 6m, 4d
	David Wotherspoon	Brian Graham	36y, 5m, 10d
	Jordan Tillson	Scott Robinson	32y, 1m, 22d
	Archie Meekison	Luke McBeth	24y, 7m, 24d
	Rory MacLeod	Aidan Fitzpatrick	23y, 1m, 13d
	Mathew Anim Cudjoe	Ché Campbell	17y, 6m, 14d
	Miller Thomson	Ceiran Loney	16y, 1m, 20d
	former Jag Declan Gallagher

notes

Both sides generally in playing order.
The OPTA network awards no assist for United's first, but the TV cameras show it was Tony Watt (#32) who bundled it towards the scorer.

TTA report

A makeshift team with an unusual formation seldom threatened despite Stanway slotting past the keeper (13). It was almost all Champions United with goals from a McMillan 6-yard box fankle (42), the defence split open (59), a cut-back despatched (69) and a pen for a dithering Ngwenya foul (83). Stewart saved a pen (an obvious dive). On to the play-offs!

TTA man of the match

RICCO DIACK put in a power of work in what was largely a lone striker role, but it was a thankless task most of the time. Showed his strength throughout, and his big presence led to the early goal.

Media report

Alan Temple, 03-May-2024, The Courier

Dundee United lapped up a colourful, raucous promotion party at a packed Tannadice following their 4-1 triumph against Partick Thistle. United ended the season in splendid style, recovering from a Ben Stanway opener to romp to victory courtesy of strikes from Craig Sibbald, Kai Fotheringham, Tony Watt and Louis Moult. But in reality, the football was a mere appetiser to Jim Goodwin’s champions lifting the trophy in front of 11,810 fans, with captain Ross Docherty – back in the starting line-up – doing the honours to a deafening roar. Exactly 341 days after crashing out of the Premiership on a bleak afternoon for the club at Fir Park, United will be back in the big time next term. “The only way is up,” to quote the Yazz tune played over the PA system prior to the action commencing. And there was a celebratory atmosphere all evening, with the teams emerging to a spectacular tifo display. More outstanding work from the fans in the DUFC Display Team. United were afforded a guard of honour by Thistle, with the Tangerines’ owner Mark Ogren was among those enthusiastically applauding the sides onto the field. The feeling that that the football was something of an afterthought was only exacerbated by Thistle – preparing for a tilt at the playoffs – resting Harry Milne, Brian Graham, Scott Robinson and Aidan Fitzpatrick. For United, Docherty was back, joining Liam Grimshaw and Moult in three changes from the side that officially sealed promotion with a 0-0 draw against Airdrieonians a week prior. Kevin Holt returned to the bench after making a fine recovery from a serious knee injury.

United were first to threaten when Moult shaped a sighter wide of the post from 25 yards. Speculative. However, Thistle claimed the lead after 13 minutes when Zander Mackenzie was tackled on the edge of the box, only for the ball to deflect into the path of Ricco Diack. Despite Walton clawing the ball away from the striker’s feet, Stanway was perfectly placed to tap into an empty net. Glenn Middleton threatened to restore parity direct from a corner before Watt saw a half-chance blocked following a swift counterattack. With no pressure on either side, this was watchable back-and-forth fare. Middleton’s deliveries were causing havoc, and Moult headed another superb corner narrowly wide of the post. United deservedly levelled on the cusp of half-time. Jack McMillan inexplicably dallied on the ball inside his own box, allowing Watt to get a foot in and spark a stramash – ultimately ending with Sibbald slamming into the net. His fifth goal of a fine season. Docherty was then denied from close-range by the legs of Stewart before Middleton zipped a drive from distance narrowly wide.

United almost claimed the lead in calamitous – from a Thistle perspective – fashion, with McMillan skewing a clearance into the path of Sibbald, who somehow failed to covert from a couple of yards. The combative midfielder then danced past a couple of challenges before fizzing a ferocious shot inches past the post. The Tangerines were handed a glorious opportunity to claim the lead when Moult hit the deck under minimal contact from Jags keeper Stewart. Referee Steven McLean awarded the contentious penalty. Perhaps justice was done when Moult’s spot-kick was saved. But United didn’t have long to wait to complete their turnaround. On the hour-mark, Moult was the creator, slipping a wonderful through-ball to Fotheringham, who scampered through on goal and slipped a clinical low finish past Stewart. Watt, wearing the captain’s armband following Docherty’s withdrawal, made the game safe when he fired through the legs of Stewart following an excellent surge forward and cut-back by McMann. And there was still time for Moult to hit 20 goals for the season. The experienced front-man made amends for his earlier penalty miss by slamming home a perfect spot-kick after Kieran Ngwenya scythed down Middleton. With the victory, United have gained the most points of any second tier champion (75) since Rangers in 2015/16. They have also equalled the record for the meanest defence (23 goals conceded) since the introduction of a 36-game season in 1994, sharing it with the St Johnstone side of 1996/97. United: worthy winners of the Championship.

Reaction

Partick Thistle manager Kris Doolan (speaking to Jagzone):

We played well in bits and pieces but Dundee United dominated most of the game. It was hard work out there, it's never easy to play against a Dundee United side, especially one that's about to lift the Championship trophy. I was delighted with the way we scored our goal; Zander MacKenzie keeps it alive, Ricco's in after it, then Stanway knocks it in the net. That's 3 young players showing real tenacity to put the ball in the back of the net, and that's what we try and build around. It was also great to see our young guys making their debut, they're our own players that we've bred and brought through, really proud of them out there. We knew what this was all about tonight, we've got minutes in for the guys that needed it, and some rest for the guys that needed that as well. We're looking forward to Tuesday night and our heads are on it.

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin (speaking to the BBC):

I'm just delighted for everyone connected to the club. Last season was a big disappointment. I'm happy the players were able to handle the pressure. I spoke to you after the game last week and we were honest enough to admit it was a poor performance. Tonight we wanted to go out in style. We got a lot of goals to please the fans. You don't get many opportunities at a professional level to win things. A lot of hard work goes into being successful. This is what football's all about, we shouldn't take it for granted. There's not many teams in the last 10-15 years who have won the Championship with as many points as we have.

MIXED EMOTIONS

● Ben Stanway scores his first league goal for Thistle. Next target: to score in a match when Thistle don't get beat.

● Ross Stewart has now played 3, lost 3, with 11 goals conceded, and remains rooted to the bottom of the player's stats table for the season (see 'Full' tab). Ironically, his last clean-sheet came in March 2020 for Queen of the South at Firhill. A Thistle win that night would have meant no relegation!

● Ceiran Loney (16y, 1m, 20d) becomes the youngest Jag in history to make a league appearance. He takes over from Jamie McKenzie (16y, 4m, 21d) who set his record on 19th April 1997 in a 2-0 defeat away to Stirling Albion.

● Jags go three league games without a booking for the first time since February 2012.

● It's a third embarrassing defeat by (at least) a 3-goal margin versus Dundee United this season, an unwanted first in the H2H.

● 20-goal Brian Graham becomes the first Jag since Kris Doolan (2010-11) to finish as the Division's top goalscorer. He even wins when he's not playing!

● 16-year-old Ceiran Loney plays his last game for Thistle.

● 29-year-old Ross Stewart plays his last game for Thistle.

ongoing sequences:

● 30 games in 3rd place (30th Sep 2023 to date), an extension of the club-record for a position outwith outright top or bottom. Overall, it's the longest run since the club-record of 33 games in bottom pace (12th), set between 20th Sep 2003 and 15th May 2004.

● 35 consecutive competitive appearances for Lewis Neilson, 15th Sep 2023 to date, a new personal best. (Longest run since: Steven Lawless - 60 games, 18th Feb 2023 to 6th Apr 2024. Club-record: Johnny Jackson - 313 games, 28th Aug 1926 to 25th Mar 1933.)

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