Partick's new management duo of Gerry Britton and Derek Whyte got their tenure in charge of the Firhill side off to an encouraging start with a hard-fought goalless draw against Dundee United at Tannadice.

Confirmed in their permanent position just hours before the trip to Tayside, both players watched injured from the side as their team dug out a point in a game which never hit the heights.

Thistle are still stranded at the bottom of the Bank of Scotland SPL table - but the point reduced their deficit behind Aberdeen to nine points and gives the Firhill men a glimmer of hope for the rest of the season.

There was a low-key start to the game, played out in front of a poor crowd inside a sodden Tannadice, with petty free-kicks and unforced errors littering play in the early stages.

Despite Partick's initial enthusiasm, their lightweight strikeforce of James Grady and Andy Thomson found it difficult to make any leeway against a more robust United defence who looked organised and determined.

Thistle defender Grant Murray almost injected some excitement into the game in the 19th minute when his back pass to keeper Kenny Arthur had the Jags number one struggling but the ball was knocked to safety with United striker Billy Dodds closing in.

The first shot on target of the game came in the 22nd minute when United full-back Alan Archibald struck a powerful 20yard free-kick which Arthur parried before the ball was eventually cleared.

The flurry of excitement soon subsided and although the home side had slightly the better of the game, possession continued to change hands with depressing regularity.

The Jags forced a couple of corners on the half hour mark and midfielder Derek Fleming's inswinger from the right almost sneaked in at the near post before United keeper Paul Gallacher scrambled to punch clear.

The visitors began to take control as the first half drew to a close but in terms of goal attempts, Fleming's curled free-kick from 20 yards with four minutes of the first half remaining - which Gallacher tipped over the bar - was as close as it came.

Tannadice manager Ian McCall made two changes at the break, Colin Samuel and Jim Paterson coming on for the disappointing Charlie Miller and Andy McLaren in an attempt to invigorate his team.

The changes certainly brought United to life and within a minute of the restart Jags keeper Arthur brought off a good double save, first from Dodds at the edge of the box after he made a handling mistake to begin with and then a tip over the bar from a Paterson thunderbolt.

In the 52nd minute Derek McInnes went close with a tremendous drive from outside the box which went just wide of Arthur's left hand post.

But the Jags could have taken a shock lead on the hour when a clever chip on the right from wide-man Jamie Mitchell found defender David Lilley at the back post - but the former Aberdeen player sent his close-range header over the bar.

As the second half progressed, the Firhill men composed themselves and seemed to have weathered the worst of the United storm.

In the 65th minute Thistle substitute Andy Ross, on moments earlier for John Paul McBride, had a speculative effort from 25 yards - but Gallacher gathered comfortably.

Moments later however, Gallacher made a brilliant double save from Jags striker Andy Thomson - who should have scored when he found himself with only the United keeper to beat.

With four minutes to go Thistle substitute Stephane Bonnes, on for Derek Fleming, should have scored when Grady set him up inside the box - but the Frenchman snatched at his shot and the ball flew high over the bar.

Teams:

Dundee Utd Gallacher, Wilson, Griffin, McCracken, Archibald, Kerr, McInnes, Miller (Samuel 46), McLaren (James Paterson 46), Dodds, McIntyre.

Subs Not Used: Jarvie, Duff, Scotland.

Booked: Miller, Dodds, Griffin.

Partick Arthur, Lilley, Murray, Madaschi, Milne, Mitchell, McBride (Andy Ross 61), Rowson, Fleming (Panther 79), Thomson (Bonnes 73), Grady.

Subs Not Used: Budinauckas, Taylor.

Booked: Lilley.

Att: 6,440

Ref: S Conroy (Scotland).