Scottish Premiership: Dundee United 0-1 Partick Thistle

Partick Thistle's Kris Doolan (left) opened the scoring

A Kris Doolan strike secured victory for Partick Thistle and condemned Dundee United to another defeat as they remain adrift at the foot of the table.

The win was Thistle's third in succession and took them 11 points clear of bottom spot.

Doolan's winner early in the second half came just a day after the striker's 29th birthday.

United have now only picked up six points from a possible 48 as they struggle for Premiership survival.

The first half was by and large forgettable other than a volley from Blair Spittal after 23 minutes that drifted over the crossbar, and a heated exchange between United defenders Ryan McGowan and Mark Durnan after a needless free kick had been given away by United.

In the second half the home side came close to opening the scoring through defender Paul Dixon.

His first effort, a left-foot shot from 25 yards was brilliantly saved by Tomas Cerny. The rebound eventually came back to Dixon but this time he fired over.

Then Thistle took the lead after shoddy defending by the United rearguard.

Stuart Bannigan swung in a cross from the left; Doolan took one touch before turning and firing the ball low beyond Michal Szromnik.

Stevie Lawless then came close to doubling Thistle's advantage but his shot came back off the woodwork and was cleared away.

United were sprung into action and a slack Cerny pass out of his own box eventually came to United substitute John Rankin who struck his left-foot drive just wide of goal.

Spittal was next to try his luck but his goal-bound effort was deflected wide of the target.

Rankin again had a shot that was just off-target before the home side had a strong penalty claim turned away by referee Steven McLean.

A Rankin corner was met on the volley by defender Callum Morris - his shot was on-target but hit the outstretched arm of defender Liam Lindsay.

As the home crowd along with the entire United side claimed a spot kick McLean waved play on much to the disgust of United boss Mixu Paatelainnen.

McGowan and Spittal combined but the Thistle defence, marshalled by the impressive Danny Seaborne, were quick to close down and clear the danger.

Chris Erskine had United's last chance of the game but Cerny was able to grab the ball at the second attempt and secure all three points for Alan Archibald's side.