Partick Thistle 0 Dundee 1, Firhill Stadium, First Division, Saturday 6th August 2011

Dundee took the 3 points in a smash and grab act at Firhill yesterday, thanks to a late penalty from Matt Lockwood. First game of the season is always hard and so it proved with Dundee struggling to create chance in the Jags box.

Team wise Dundee started with Hyde and McIntosh after a thigh injury ruled out Savo Milne. Jamie McCluskey started with Nicky Riley finding a place on the bench along with with Kyle Benedictus who is unlucky after playing well in preseason.

Partick Thistle started well and were attacking at every opportunity, thankfully they did not trouble Rab Douglas much in the Dundee goal, apart from a free header but David Rowson put it over the bar. We looked pretty solid at the back but the strikers were struggling to hold the ball to bring in the midfield.

Second half and no changes to the side again the Jags looked dangerous and Douglas had to look sharp on a few occasions. With time running out Nicky Riley replaced McIntosh and at last we looked better going forward with O'Donnell unlucky with a shot which went straight to keeper Fox. But with minutes left a good tackle from Irvine send Riley clear wide out he lobbed the ball over Archibald and went down on which Referee Conroy pointed to the spot. Up stepped Matt Lockwood to send Fox the wrong way to score and seal the three points for the Dark Blues, and to send the Dundee fans wild. There was a last late chance for Partick but Rab Douglas saved well after good play from the defence.

Dundee: Douglas, Irvine, Weston, McKeown, Lockwood, McCluskey (McGregor 90), O'Donnell, Chisholm, Conroy, McIntosh (Riley 80), Hyde. Subs Not Used: Gibson, Benedictus, Webster.

Booked: Weston.

Att: 3,065

Ref: Steve Conroy

A bit tough on Partick today with a draw being fair enough, but we will take the 3 points anytime. I thought the defence played well today with the midfield and strikers struggling to link up. Nicky Riley did make a difference when he came on. My Mom today goes to Rhys Weston who looked back to his best and took the roll of captain in his stride.