Partick Thistle finally got their first win of the season, doubling their goal tally in the process, as they swept a shambolic Dundee United aside at Firhill.
The victory moves the home side off the bottom of the table, being replaced there by the disjointed visitors.
David Amoo rose above the tentative Luis Zwick in the United goal to give Thistle an early lead before man of the match Mustapha Dumbuya enjoyed a touch of fortune to add a second after the break, when his cross deceived everyone and found the net.
Stuart Bannigan added insult to injury for United by adding a third with a tidy side-foot finish.
Thistle manager Alan Archibald had stressed the importance of getting the first goal in this game all week, and his wish was granted as the home side broke the deadlock after 15 minutes.
Bannigan played a one-two with Callum Booth on the left, and his deflected cross looped high towards goal. It looked for all the world that Zwick was going to come and collect, but he hesitated to allow Amoo to rise above him and force a header home for his second goal in two games.
Ryan Dow brought a decent stop out of Tomas Cerny as United tried to find an instant reply, and then Amoo really should have doubled the home side’s advantage when a break from Pogba and Steven Lawless presented him with a clear sight of goal from eight yards. Zwick managed to atone somewhat for his earlier error though by blocking with his legs.
A foul by Ryan McGowan allowed Sean Welsh to line a free-kick up from 25 yards, but Zwick was equal to his curling effort, managing to get up brilliantly to tip over the bar.
From the corner, Dan Seaborne rose highest and crashed a header off the bar that rebounded off Zwick and trickled agonisingly wide of the post.
The woodwork was then tested at the other end, as the ball broke to Scott Fraser 20 yards out and he unleashed a left-foot rocket that came off the inside of Cerny’s right-hand post and rebounded to safety.
United had another opportunity to level when Blair Spittal glanced a looping near-post header over the rooted Cerny, but the ball dropped just wide of the target.
The start of the second half was scrappy, but Thistle weren’t caring as they doubled their lead with a goal that was in-keeping with the general play after 55 minutes.
The excellent Mustapha Dumbuya advanced from right-back and cut-inside before putting a cross in towards the arriving Bannigan, but it didn’t look as if anyone got a touch as the ball bounced through and into the far corner of Zwick’s net. Dumbuya was certainly claiming it, and it was hard to grudge him his moment after an enterprising performance.
There was a general feeling that Thistle had been due to give someone a hammering after being profligate with their chances so far this season, and today was the day as Bannigan soon added a third.
A cross from Pogba was missed by Ryan McGowan, and Bannigan kept his cool to sweep home with the United defence in total disarray.
The only surprise remaining in the game was that Thistle didn’t add to their tally, but the locals weren’t caring as they rejoiced in the relief of a victory at last.
Partick Thistle: Cerny; Dumbuya, Seaborne, Lindsay, Booth; Osman, Welsh; Amoo (Wilson, 78’), Lawless (Edwards, 85') Bannigan; Pogba (Doolan, 80’).
Booked: Lindsay (33’), Lawless (40’), Bannigan (84').
Scorers: Amoo (15’), Dumbuya (55’), Bannigan (66’)
Dundee United: Zwick; McGowan, Dillon, Morris (Donaldson, 6’), Spark (Connolly, 62’); Spittal, Souttar ,Fraser, Rankin; Dow, Bodul (Murray, 70’).
Booked: McGowan (75’), Murray (90').
Referee: Craig Thomson
Man of the match: Mustapha Dumbuya (Partick Thistle)
Attendance: 3675
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