Thistle just keep top six hopes alive

Kris Doolan struck 19 minutes from time with the only goal of the match to leave Jags in seventh place going into their final pre-split fixture at Ross County on Saturday.

Alan Archibald’s side still need to rely on other results going their way, but if they can win at Dingwall they only a Dundee win at Hamilton plus Motherwell and St Johnstone both avoiding defeat against Celtic and Kilmarnock would deny them.

Thistle went into Tuesday’s match looking to improve on last Saturday’s goalless draw at home to Kilmarnock while United were desperate need of the points as they battle to get off bottom spot in the table.

In the end United had only themselves to blame on not leaving Glasgow with three points, passing up a barrowload of first-half chances before being stung by Doolan’s second half strike.

In the opening stages Ryan Dow twice brought out saves from Tomas Cerny and also put two other efforts over the bar.

Billy McKay then had a chance after Thistle’s Dan Seaborne misplaced a clearance header, but with the goal gaping he scooped the ball over.

Cerny then produced a terrific save from John Rankin and Thistle got to the break still on level terms.

Jages were better after the break and Abdul Osman headed over from a Sean Welsh corner before David Amoo headed a Mustapha Dumbuya cross into the path of Callum Booth who volleyed just wide.

Gavin Gunning them missed another opening for United who were punished for scorning so many chances in 71 minutes.

Dumbuya fired a low ball in from the right, Amoo stepped over and the lethal Doolan drilled the ball low past Eiji Kawashima from 12 yards.

A Kawashima save prevented Welsh making it 2-0 but Thistle had done enough.