Dundee Utd 1 Partick Thistle 0

A late penalty from Nadir Ciftci helped Dundee United overcome 10-man Partick Thistle 1-0 at Tannadice to close the gap on Scottish Premiership leaders Hamilton. Ciftci stuck from the penalty spot in the 83rd minute after he was brought down by Thistle captain Daniel Seaborne, who was sent off for his last-man foul.

Partick were the better team in the second half but Ciftci's spot-kick means Jackie McNamara's side now sit just one point behind Hamilton, despite not being at their best in this match. United brought back winger Gary Mackay-Steven for Ryan Dow, while on-loan Hull full-back Conor Townsend was on the bench after a recent foot injury.

It was a bright start from both sides and the first real opening arose in five minutes when United midfielder Chris Erskine went on a solo run. Erskine surged forward before trying his luck with a low 22-yard shot which went past visiting goalkeeper Scott Fox's left-hand post.

At the other end, Thistle threatened to break the deadlock after eight

minutes. James Craigen dispossessed United midfielder Staurt Armstrong and quickly sent Kris Doolan free. Doolan connected well with his curling left-foot shot, which brought out a fine diving save from home keeper Radoslaw Cierzniak at the expense of a corner.

Thistle took heart from that and soon after they had a decent chance to go ahead. Craigen's cross picked out Christie Elliott, who had time to pick his spot but shot too straight at Cierzniak and the Polish keeper saved his effort.

United replied with Mackay-Steven playing in Ciftci but the striker's left-foot shot could only find the side-netting. A few moments later, the home team mounted another attack as Mackay-Steven set up Armstrong, whose shot from the edge of the penalty box went inches wide of the target. On 28 minutes, Jordan McMillan became the first player to be booked by referee Steven McLean for bringing down Mackay-Steven with a late challenge. And eight minutes later Thistle midfielder Stuart Bannigan strode forward from midfield but saw his long-range effort sail over the bar.

Then, on the stroke of half-time, United should have taken the lead.

Armstrong's through pass beat the Jags' offside trap as Ciftci ran through with only Fox to beat from 12 yards, but just as the Turkish striker looked set to put his side ahead, he could only shoot right at Fox, who saved with his legs as the chance went begging.

Ciftci tried hard to redeem himself after the break by going on a mazy run to try and get his side in front. He turned Conrad Balatoni 35 yards from goal and put his head down as he made his way towards the Jags penalty area. Although slightly off balance, Ciftci still attempted to get a shot away but found his effort blocked by McMillan. Thistle launched the next attack after 57 minutes with Elliott crossing for Lawless on the edge of the box, whose left-foot shot was saved low to his left by Cierzniak.

The visitors came close to making the breakthrough when they hit the woodwork on 65 minutes. Elliott cut in from the left before curling a right-foot shot, which looked destined for the top corner until it came back off the bar with Cierzniak beaten. And United struck in 83 minutes to seal the points. Sean Dillon's pass down the left released Ciftci, who darted towards goal, beating three Thistle defenders. Ciftci was just about to shoot when Thistle defender Seaborne brought him down, and up stepped the United striker to settle the issue by sending the penalty past Jags keeper Fox.