BILLY CONNOLLY’s old gag about some people thinking the full name of his local football team was Partick Thistle Nil is in danger of ringing true. Thistle are traditionally that most capricious of beasts but in one regard they have become wholly predictable of late: they simply cannot score goals.

Seven games into the SPFL Premiership season and Alan Archibald’s side have conceded 10 times, the same as third-placed Hearts. Three other sides have let in more. That, then, is not the problem. Instead it is at the opposite end of the pitch where Thistle continue to toil. They have scored in only one of their league games, a 2-2 draw with fellow strugglers Kilmarnock. In every other match they have concluded the 90 minutes without having made the opposition goalkeeper sweat. It is a fairly damning statistic and barely a surprise that they now find themselves rock bottom of the table, propping up the other 11 clubs.

Being Thistle, of course, they have found different ways to fail. Some weeks they do not score simply because they have not created sufficient or good enough chances. On Saturday against Dundee that was not the problem. Instead it was the efficiency of their ball-striking that let them down. Ryan Stevenson hit the post with a shot and then the crossbar with a header. Kris Doolan also hit the bar with an overhead kick. Robbie Muirhead shot straight into the goalkeeper’s arms. Doolan screwed another effort wide of goal. On another day they could have feasibly scored four or five. Whether that is simply unlucky or poor finishing depends on the viewpoint of the person addressing it.

Archibald, having surveyed the league table, could draw no positives from his team’s performance. After all, it will be his job on the line should Thistle continue in similar vein for much longer. Doolan, though, saw cause for optimism. Often the lone striker at the apex of his side’s 4-2-3-1 system, there have been games this season when he has been left more isolated than a capitalist at a gathering of Jeremy Corbyn supporters. With debutants Muirhead and Mustapha Dumbuya both offering plenty of delivery and support, however, Doolan was regularly involved on Saturday. That Thistle still failed to score, therefore, left him feeling quite conflicted.

“Three or four different players could have put one in the back of the net,” he said. “It was just one of those days as a team. It’s a long 90 minutes when you’re not creating. It goes in a lot quicker when you are making chances. You just have to put one away.

“There are fine margins. Hitting the woodwork three times doesn’t happen too often in a game. But we have to take the positives. At least we made those chances. In the previous few games we didn’t create those chances so on another day hopefully they go in.”

He was less content about Thistle’s slump to the foot of the division, although insisted there would be no panic at Firhill.

“It’s difficult to take when you see teams around you picking up points, especially when you’ve slipped up. That’s a tough one. But it’s too early to worry about it. It’s only ourselves that can get us out of this position. We won’t look to any other teams to do us any favours as you won’t get that in this league. We’ll just pick ourselves up and go again. We’ve picked up one or two points along the way but a win in the Premiership can make a massive difference to your position in the table, but also to your momentum and confidence. These 90 minutes are by. We just have to look to the next game."

Naturally, the mood was somewhat brighter in the Dundee camp after Greg Stewart added to his growing reputation by scoring what proved to be the only goal of the game. It lifted Paul Hartley’s side up to fifth place in the table despite a somewhat staccato start to the campaign.

“We’re delighted with that win,” said striker Kane Hemmings. “To a man, everyone worked their socks off. Thistle were unfortunate not to get a couple of goals, obviously. But we took our chance and then held on. Overall I thought we got up the pitch and counter-attacked well when we got the chance.

“It’s been a bit stop-start this season. That win will have moved us up and we’d probably take the position we’re in now if you’d offered us it at the start of the season. It’s a decent start but we can get better.”

There was praise for strike partner Stewart. “He’s one of the best I’ve played with. Since I’ve known Greg he’s always had a cultured left foot and a pass finish. Obviously he’s worked on it with the gaffer but he’s always been capable of doing it.”