Dundee struck an unlikely late equaliser to claim a point at home against Partick Thistle after trailing for the majority of a largely forgettable affair at Dens Park.
An early header from Liam Lindsay looked to have sealed the points for the visitors against an out-of-sorts Dundee outfit, who had rarely threatened to get back on level terms until substitute Kane Hemmings grabbed an equaliser with just six minutes remaining.
Much of the talk pre-match centred upon veteran Partick Thistle goalkeeper Paul Gallacher, who had been pressed into service by the injury to Tomas Cerny and the suspension of Ryan Scully.
He showed that his reflexes were still sharp early on as Rhys Healey cut in from the left and got a shot away that Gallacher did well to claw to safety.
Thistle went up the other end and hit the front in their first attack. David Amoo won a corner on the right that Stuart Bannigan swung in for the arriving Lindsay, who had the freedom of the six-yard area to nod beyond Scott Bain.
Rory Loy was next to test Gallacher from long-range as the home side looked to hit back, but again the player-coach was equal to the effort, forcing the ball behind.
He then made a smart block with his feet from Paul McGowan as Thistle struggled to clear a corner, and from the break the visitors might have doubled their advantage. Amoo gathered on half-way and broke on to the Dundee backline, but he delayed his pass through to Kris Doolan and the striker was flagged offside.
Dundee looked vulnerable from set-pieces, and another beautiful Bannigan delivery from a free-kick almost brought the second goal, but Doolan headed wide from a good position.
His next effort was much closer, as he attempted an audacious overhead kick from Stevie Lawless’s chipped delivery that trundled just wide of the target.
Doolan should have burst the net moments later though as Thomas Konrad made a hash of clearing Amoo’s low cross, presenting the ball to the Thistle striker yards from goal. Doolan took an age to sort out his feet though, and Bain managed to spread himself to smother.
Thistle were comfortable in possession as the half drew to a close, and Dundee manager Paul Hartley would surely have had some stern words with his players at the interval as they continually failed to get close to their opponents.
Indeed, they looked a touch sharper as the second period got underway, and McGowan had an early effort on the volley that Gallacher got down to hold.
There was little further evidence of a Dundee revival though, with goalmouth incidents few and far between as the half wore on.
Indeed, it was Thistle substitute Gary Fraser who was next to really threaten some 15 minutes from time, as Bain was forced to palm over his thundering effort from distance.
Fraser then fired over a free-kick from wide on the left that Lindsay attacked again, but this time his header flashed over the target.
Just as it looked as though the visitors would see out the game in relative comfort, substitute Hemmings struck for Dundee on 84 minutes.
Some neat interplay at the edge of the Thistle area from Paul McGinn and McGowan saw the latter slip a cute ball through for Hemmings who steadied himself before finishing low past Gallacher.
Both sides threw everything forward in the closing stages to try to claim the winner, and it was Thistle who almost snatched it on the break as Amoo set up Welsh on the edge of the area, but he skewed his half-volley over the bar.
Dundee: Bain; McGinn, Gadzhalov, Konrad, Holt; Healey (Hemmings, 30’), McGowan, Ross, Low (Calder, 63’); Loy, Stewart.
Scorers: Hemmings (84’)
Booked:
Sent Off:
Partick Thistle: Gallacher; Dumbuya, Lindsay, Seaborne, Booth; Osman, Welsh; Amoo, Lawless (Fraser, 70’), Bannigan; Doolan (Stevenson, 84’).
Scorers: Lindsay (5’),
Booked: Welsh (70’), Bannigan (74’)
Sent Off:
Referee: Willie Collum
Man of the match: Liam Lindsay (Partick Thistle)
Attendance: 5067
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