Partick manager John Lambie's last home game in charge of his beloved Thistle ended in disappointment as his side slumped to a 1-0 defeat to Dundee United, who seal their Bank of Scotland SPL future with this win.

Lambie bade farewell to the Jags faithful for the last time before retirement but his team could not get the result to make it a happy send-off.

In a dour first 45 minutes, both sides descended into a war of attrition which had little in terms of clear-cut opportunities for either side.

However, things improved after the break and in the 58th minute Jim Paterson pounced on the loose ball after Thistle keeper Kevin Budinauckas had parried a Charlie Miller shot - and the United wide-man slammed the ball into the net from close range to grab the points.

There was something of a carnival atmosphere inside rain-sodden Firhill at kick-of time to witness boss Lambie's last stand, with United's large and enthusiastic travelling support complementing the vociferous Jags faithful who turned up to pay tribute to their leader.

The visitors started the better and in the second minute striker Derek Lilley, playing his last game for the Tayside club, let go from 30 yards but his effort flew high and wide.

In the fifth minute United midfielder Danny Griffin's wicked free-kick from wide on the left had Jags goalkeeper Budinauckas scrambling to save.

Moments later, after a one-two with Miller, the Irishman had another effort from the edge of the box which went just over the bar.

The Jags' first effort on goal came in the 15th minute but Alan Archibald's speculative effort from the edge of the box looped over United keeper Alan Combe's crossbar.

Just before the break, Jags keeper Budinauckas was lucky not to be shown a red card after he handled outside the box following a defensive mix-up.

Referee Dougie McDonald settled for a yellow card and from the free-kick United striker Jim McIntyre squandered the opportunity, chipping the ball lazily over the bar.

Neither manager felt the need to make any half-time changes but it was nearly the home side who took the lead after only a minute of the restart.

United defender Gary Bollan misjudged a long clearance inside his own box and the ball fell kindly to veteran striker Gerry Britton, who blasted his shot off the bar from a tight angle before the ball bounced to safety.

At the other end, Lilley's low drive from the edge of the box was accurate and powerful - but Budinauckas was well placed to save down at his feet.

Play was swinging from end to end now and Alex Burns' dipping shot for the Jags which went narrowly over was quickly followed by Miller's thunderbolt from 25 yards which was parried by Budinauckas with the returning ball just eluding the waiting Lilley.

The game was hotting up nicely and there was no surprise when the deadlock was broken in the 58th minute - and to the delight of the travelling support it was the visitors who got the goal.

Yet another Miller shot from the edge of the box was parried out by Budinauckas but this time Paterson was first on the spot to slam the ball into the net from close range, for his first goal of the season.

In the 73rd minute McIntyre had the ball in the Jags net but the assistant referee correctly flagged it offside.

Moments later, Thistle midfielder Martin Hardie's weak shot, which Combe saved easily, took the pressure off the visiting defence, who were showing some signs of nerves.

In the end, despite the home side's late rally which saw Alex Burns come within inches of equalising with an angled shot, United held on.

Teams

Partick: Budinauckas, Lilley (Whyte 86), Archibald, Craigan, McGowne, Milne, Fleming (Mitchell 63), Lennon (Shields 79), Britton, Hardie, Burns.

Subs Not Used: Arthur, Rushford.

Dundee Utd: Combe, Duff, Bollan, Tod, Lauchlan, Griffin, Easton (Latapy 52), Miller, Lilley, McIntyre (Dodds 75), Paterson (Wilson 68).

Subs Not Used: Gallacher, McCracken.

Goals: Paterson 59.

Att: 6,357

Ref: D McDonald (Scotland).