Dundee Utd 4
Partick Th 1
League Cup (2nd Round)

Match Report

We progressed to a tie at Starks Park in fairly comfortable fashion. Partick posed little threat up front, but it wasn't until the closing stages that the Thistle defence began to creak. The first half set the pattern, as e made regular forays towards Brough in the visitor's goal. Brough was one of the main stumbling blocks. He touched a shot from lain Ferguson on to the bar after 21 minutes. Ten minutes later he blocked a Paul Sturrock shot with his feet and seconds later was at full stretch to save from Dave Narey. The half ended when the Thistle 'keeper blocked a Maurice Malpas volley.

Brough's defiance was finally defeated in the 53rd minute. Paul Sturrock got in a cross after a brilliant piece of combination play between himself and Maurice Malpas, and Kevin Gallacher rose to nod down past the previously unbeatable Brough. Midway through the second half, John Holt brought out yet another fine save from Brough with a well struck 25 yarder. The increasing United pressure finally brought a second goal in 74 minutes. Paul Sturrock picked up an lan Redford header, scampered down the left, and cut inside to score with a low shot which squeezed inside the far post. Thistle replied with indecent haste. Ian McDonald pounced on a loose ball and his through ball found Mitchell, who prodded the ball past Billy Thomson. Seven minutes from time debutant Ian McPhee capped a fine performance, by scoring. He picked up a loose ball played a one-two with lain Ferguson before striding through to expertly beat Brough with his curling shot. A couple of minutes from the end, a free-kick was played into the path of Iain Ferguson, whose viciously swerving shot gave Brough no chances. No prizes for guessing the sponsors "Man of the Match" - it was John Brough, of course.