Dundee Utd2–1Partick Th

Billy Kirkwood had been a doubt with a badly bruised shin, but recovered to take his place in United's starting eleven, which remained unchanged for the third consecutive match after the two thumping victories over Motherwell and Morton. United were without part-time player Derek Addison, who had to attend a business course in London, so Derek Frye was promoted to the bench after a long spell in the reserves. He was joined by Bobby Robinson with Graeme Payne missing out. Derek Stark was presented with the Player of the Month Award before kick-off.

ith just two minutes gone John Holt put United ahead with a tremendous goal. A Ray Stewart cross was cleared out of defence to Holt who lashed the back into the net with a first-time shot from 18 yards, giving Alan Rough no chance. Kirkwood sent a similar effort just past, and a miraculous save by Rough prevented United increasing their lead in the seventh minute when he finger-tipped a glorious six yard, overhead shot from Paul Sturrock over the bar. United had two penalty appeals in the 15th minute, with Campbell blocking a Davie Dodds shot, and then the two players involved again as the Partick defender brought down the young United striker in the box, both turned down by the referee. McAlpine did well to push an Ian Gibson shot over the bar, and Iain Phillip let rip with a 30-yarder which was only inched off target. Partick were unlucky not to get back on level terms when McAlpine threw himself full stretch to save McKinnon's shot, and Narey blocked McAdam's effort from the rebound. Sumner was booked for a foul on Phillip, and Campbell was ticked off by the referee for a foul on Dodds as both teams fought to get a firm hold on the game.

Within five minutes of the restart Mackie was booked for a foul on George Fleming, and on the 59th minute Thistle found an equaliser. Colin McAdam out-jumped the United defence to score with a powerful header from a Park corner kick. Ten minutes later McAdam almost struck again with a close-in shot which was saved by McAlpine at the second attempt. Campbell was eventually booked after protesting against a foul given against him. In the 76th minute, Tannadice erupted when Paul Hegarty put United ahead for a second time when he joined in the attack and was right on the spot to slip the ball past Rough from a Sturrock cross. Rough made a great save from a Dodds effort, and McKinnon became the fourth Partick player to be cautioned for a foul on Stewart. Before the final whistle there could have been goals at either end, when a McAdam header almost eluded McAlpine, and when Sturrock blasted over the bat from six yards. United remained in pole position in the Premier League table, but had played more games than all of the other challengers.