Partick Thistle 2-4 Dundee: Dark Blues cruise to win

The Gary Harkins Show: The midfielder was scorer and provider. Picture: SNS Group

Harkins won an early penalty that was converted by Kane Hemmings, before helping himself to a first-half double.

Greg Stewart was also on the scoresheet for the visitors - who netted all of their goals in the opening 37 minutes - with strikes from David Amoo and Kris Doolan scant consolation for Thistle in the end.

The match went ahead despite heavy snow in Glasgow, with blue lines painted on the Firhill pitch earlier in the day and a yellow ball in use.

Partick Thistle groundstaff tend to the pitch at half time. Picture: SNS Group

Thistle were without suspended skipper Abdul Osman and forward Mathias Pogba, who was an injury doubt before the game.

Dundee handed a debut from the start to new signing Darren O’Dea.

Partick had been unable to register a win over Dundee since the Dark Blues returned to the top flight, and a change in fortunes appeared unlikely after they found themselves trailing by three goals after just 15 minutes.

The visitors were ahead after seven minutes when Harkins was tripped in the box by Liam Lindsay and Hemmings lashed home from the penalty spot.

Kane Hemmings celebrates after scoring for Dundee. Picture: SNS Group

Harkins, himself, was on the scoresheet three minutes later. Goalkeeper Tomas Cerny failed to deal with Nick Ross’ free-kick and Harkins pounced to stab into the back of the net.

It went from bad to worse for Thistle when Stewart cut inside from the left and dispatched a fine shot beyond the reach of Cerny.

Dundee continued to pile forward in numbers and only the woodwork prevented them from extending their lead further when Hemmings cracked a shot off the post.

Despite such an horrendous start to the match, the home side managed to pull a goal back after 23 minutes.

Stuart Bannigan’s cross picked out Amoo in front of goal and he nodded past goalkeeper Scott Bain from six yards to hand Thistle hope of a comeback.

But those hopes were shattered when Dundee struck again eight minutes before the break.

Harkins grabbed his second of the day in style with a fantastic curling effort from the edge of the area that left Cerny with no chance.

Lindsay was having a tough time of it and he was fortunate to escape with a yellow card for a cynical challenge on Hemmings shortly after the restart.

Thistle attempted to rally again and they appealed for a penalty after claiming Callum Booth’s strike was handled in the box by Stewart.

But there was no spot-kick award from referee Euan Anderson.

However, the match official did produce a red card to dismiss Lindsay for a second bookable offence after 77 minutes.

Dundee were unable to add to their tally in the closing stages, but there was to be one more goal with Partick making it 4-2 with a close-range rebound effort from Doolan in stoppage time.