Partick and Dundee United drew for the third time this season in a tetchy and ill-tempered goalless draw at Firhill.

United's Steven Thompson should have given the visitors a half-time lead, but fluffed a double chance.

Jags' pair Alex Burns and Jamie Mitchell both missed opportunities after the interval, but for most of this hard-fought match, there was little creativity from either side.

Struggling United stopped their recent rot with their first point after three defeats, although they remain bottom of the table.

For Thistle, who had taken two points in their last two games, the result keeps them clear of the relegation zone.

The two previous games this season between these clubs had ended in a draw, so this clash was always going to be tight and hard fought.

The visitors, with a new five-man system in midfield, were reluctant to push players forward in support of Thompson and Derek Lilley and after a good opening spell, their threat slowly diminished.

Thistle, for their part, were struggling to mount any sort of attack and their first effort on goal did not come until the 22nd minute, but David Lilley's close-range header from a Burns free-kick was weak and slipped past United keeper Paul Gallacher's left-hand post.

Both defences remained on top as the first half continued and Thistle defender Derek Lilley's speculative, but half-hearted strike from 20 yards, which went blazing high over the bar, was symptomatic of the deteriorating fare on offer.

In the 34th minute, there was a rare moment of penalty box excitement in which the visitors should have taken the lead.

In a crowded area, Thompson found himself only eight yards out, but shot straight at Kenny Arthur when goal seemed certain.

The ball bounced up, Stuart Duff's header rebounded against the bar and when the ball was then crossed back into the middle by Duff himself, Thompson's close-range header was tipped over the bar by Arthur.

After such a dismal opening 45 minutes, it could only be hoped the second half would be an improvement.

After the interval, the home side started off in frantic fashion, manager John Lambie seemingly sending them out with their ears stinging.

They pushed the Tannadice men back straight from the re-start, but it was more brawn than brain and the United defence held firm.

In the 49th minute, Jags midfielder Martin Hardie should have headed Burns into a goal-scoring position at the edge of the visitors box, but his effort was weak and it allowed United defender Jim Lauchlan to clear.

At the other end, Tannadice youngster Stephen O'Donnell's snap shot from 20 yards went high and wide.

United began to push again and in the 55th minute, Craig Easton was sent free in the box by Miller - but his angled shot from 12 yards was beaten away by Arthur for a corner which ultimately came to nothing.

On 66 minutes, Thistle had a half chance when a weak Mark Wilson clearance broke to Burns only 10 yards from goal, but the ex-Motherwell player was off balance and blasted his shot high over Gallacher's bar.

Moments later, the Jags should have taken the lead when Gallacher parried a fierce Jamie Buchan shot from 25 yards.

The rebound fell invitingly to Burns, but somehow the little striker managed to put the ball past the post from no more than three yards out.

In the closing stages it was Thistle who were on top and pushing for the breakthrough, but despite looking fatigued the United defence stood up to the pressure.

But Mitchell should have won it for the Jags when he broke free with only eight minutes remaining, but the ex-Clyde man ran out of steam and was caught by three defenders before he could get his shot away.

Teams

Partick Arthur, Lilley, Archibald, Craigan, Chiarini, Paterson (Lennon 75), Buchan, Mitchell, Britton, Hardie, Burns.

Subs Not Used: Budinauckas, Waddell, Walker, Gibson.

Booked: Paterson, Burns, Mitchell.

Dundee Utd Gallacher, Duff, Paterson (Cummings 74), McCraken, Wilson, Lauchlan, Easton, Miller, Lilley, Thompson, O'Donnell.

Subs Not Used: Combe, McCunnie, Smart, Hamilton.

Booked: Thompson, Lilley, Easton.

Att: 5,109

Ref: A Freeland (Scotland).