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Promotion hopefuls Partick Thistle rounded off 2023 with a December denouement in the city of discovery as they took on title favourites Dundee United in front of the BBC cameras.

Kris Doolan made one change to the side that drew with Inverness the week prior as midfielder Stuart Bannigan came into the starting eleven in place of Blair Alston. For the second game running, there was once again a landmark occasion for a Jags winger, this time the turn of Aidan Fitzpatrick, as the Thistle Weir youth academy graduate made his 100th appearance in red and yellow.

A slow start at Tannadice saw the Arabs edge in front after only six minutes with vice-captain Tony Watt on hand to smash the ball home after some miscommunication amongst the Thistle rear-guard.

The Jags managed to play their way into the game and would go in search of a leveller with young Ricco Diack being introduced from the bench to join marksman Brian Graham in attack. With the visitors committing extra bodies forward it left the door open for United to punish them at the other end. A further two quick fire strikes at the death from birthday boy Watt ensured the one-time Scotland international went home with the match ball as he sealed a comprehensive win for the hosts.

A disappointing end to the year for the Maryhill Jags as the gulf in resources was plain for all 8,000 in attendance to see.

Thistle gaffer Doolan chose to ignore superstition as he wasted no time in doing some New Year’s Day tidying of his playing squad. Loanees Ben Williamson and Nathan McGinley returned to their parent clubs having failed to force their way into the Jags side whilst English winger Wes McDonald saw his contract mutually terminated after finding game time hard to come by. There would also be an incoming at Firhill with defensive midfielder Luke McBeth joining the club from Glenafton Athletic. The 24-year-old being signed for an undisclosed fee having spent the last couple of months in training with the side as Doolan cast his eye over the player.

Partick Thistle would look to make amends for the poor showing at Tannadice and Glasgow rivals Queen’s Park were the side to first foot Firhill. The two clubs facing off for the eight time since the second of January last year, Queen’s this time under the stewardship of Paul Nuijten, assisted by former Jag Tam O’Ware.

READ MORE: Dundee United 3 Partick Thistle 0: Watt nets hat-trick

Doolan - looking to build continuity - named an unchanged starting eleven for the Jags with newcomer McBeth finding a spot on the bench. Three changes for the Spiders however, with teenagers Lewis Reid, Cameron Bruce and Zach Mauchin all being drafted into the backline.

After a quiet opening, the game would burst into life shortly before the half hour mark as Harry Milne broke the deadlock. Fitzpatrick floating an inch perfect corner to the back post where Milne stood unmarked to nod the ball past Calum Ferrie to put the Jags a goal to the good. A fifth goal of the campaign for the in-form full-back.

With Thistle now in the ascendency, they would look the flex their muscles in an attempt to double their lead before the break. The Firhill crowd would soon find themselves in disbelief however, as the game’s next goal went the way of the visitors. Jags goalkeeper Jamie Sneddon came to collect a wayward pass from Dom Thomas, when completely unforced, the stopper dropped the ball at the feet of Queens striker Ruari Paton, who was left with the easy task of rolling the ball into the empty net to tie the game. An egregious error from the keeper.

Thistle came out the traps flying and retook the lead just minutes into the second half. The overlapping Jack McMillan dashing to the byline before crossing for red-hot Fitzpatrick to volley beyond Ferrie. The winger getting himself in on the act having already set up the opener. A Mohammed Kudus inspired celebration followed from Fitzpatrick as the Jags playmaker sat atop the advertising hoardings as he was embraced by his teammates.

Five minutes from time, Hearts loanee Lewis Neilson put the game out of sight for Thistle. The magnificent McInroy - having pulled the strings in midfield all afternoon - delivered a pinpoint corner onto the head of Neilson who powered home for 3-1. A first professional goal to cap off a man of the match performance from the Scotland youth starlet.

It was too little, too late for the tireless Paton as the Irishman’s 90th minute free kick proved to be little more than a consolation as Doolan’s men held on to see the game out for three points.

A first win in three for the Jags as they start 2024 with a Glasgow derby victory, seeing their cushion in third place being extended to eight points. The Spiders on the other hand remain rock bottom of the Championship table as their poor run of form now stretches to 15 league games without a win.