Team News – Dundee
If Dundee fans are wondering just how they’ve managed to get sucked down to the bottom of the pile, they need only look at their recent league form, having lost their last five matches in-a-row. Since forcing a 1-1 with Kilmarnock on September 10th, The Dee have gone on to lose to Aberdeen, Inverness, Celtic, Hearts and St Johnstone. 11 goals conceded during that spell shows where the major problems lie but they’ve not been too hot at the other end either, scoring just three of their own, or one in over 270 minutes of football.
That woeful form was never more evident than in their last start when beaten 2-1 by St Johnstone on the road, with a Rory Loy converted penalty on 88-minutes making the game seem closer than it actually was. Goals from Steven Anderson and Danny Swanson, also from the spot, ensured The Saints moved up to fourth in the table and it was a result never in doubt as Dundee were rarely in the match as a threat. The fact they managed just 46 per cent of possession and four shots on target speaks for itself.
How manager Paul Hartley can cope is another question as his hands have been tied behind his back by a board putting cash before points, and he’ll probably find himself out of a job if things don’t improve fast. Who’d be a football manager? He spoke after that loss to St Johnstone about the need for his side to face up to reality and take responsibility for their actions. The second-half in particular was a cause for real frustration for Hartley and he’ll let his players know, in no uncertain terms, that improvement is needed, and then some.
Bookies aren’t holding their breath however and the home win is best priced at 6/4 with William Hill while Dundee to at least break their bad habit and score a goal looks a lot more likely at 2/7 with William Hill. That may attract the attention of big hitters.
Team News – Partick
Partick fans certainly can’t look down their noses at supporters in the opposite stand as they are also winless in eight since taking the opening game of the season vs Inverness. Four wins and three draws since mean they enter the latest round of fixtures stuck in the relegation play-off places with -4 in the goal difference tally. Such is the competitive nature of this division, they are only three points away from a place in the top-six, it would take some turnaround in form for that to happen however.
Thistle did pick up a much needed point at the weekend when finishing 1-1 with Ross County but it could have been better had The Staggies not scored an equaliser deep in stoppage time with Chris Burke forcing a share of the spoils. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot. Sean Welsh netted from the spot on 24-minutes when Ryan Dow clattered Kris Doolan in the box.
That was Partick’s fourth draw in their last five matches and another has been priced up at 23/10 with Coral, although that seems to be the general feeling in the betting ring at the time of writing. Partick to grab what would be their second win of the season is best 2/1 at Bet Victor.
Head To Head
Dundee have won four and drawn two of their last six meetings with Partick Thistle.
Dundee vs Partick Thistle Stats
44% of Partick Thistle's games this season have ended as draws, including 80% of their last five.
Dundee Team News
Centre back James McPake remains sidelined with a dislocated kneecap.
Partick Thistle Team News
Goalkeeper Tomas Cerny, right back Mustapha Dumbuya, and playmaker Stuart Bannigan are all still injured.
