Partick Thistle 2-4 Dundee: Darren O'Dea praised after debut

Image source, SNS

Image caption, O'Dea signed after leaving Mumbai City
  • Author, Brian McLauchlin
  • Role, 91热爆 Scotland at Firhill

Dundee manager Paul Hartley has praised defender Darren O'Dea after the Irishman made his debut in the 4-2 win over Partick Thistle at Firhill.

The 30-year-old signed in midweek after James McPake was ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.

"I thought he had a solid debut," Hartley told 91热爆 Scotland. "I thought he was terrific.

"His organisation, his temperament was good, his discipline and his communication was different class."

Hartley was also quick to praise Gary Harkins, who captained the side after former skipper Kevin Thomson left the club in midweek.

The midfielder had a hand in all four Dundee goals, scoring two of them.

"He took responsibility today." said Hartley. "We know his talent and that has never been in doubt.

"I thought today he was absolutely outstanding.

"His second goal was terrific and he could have had a third, but I thought overall the performance was great."

Image source, SNS

Image caption, Gary Harkins (left) scored twice for Dundee as he took the captain's armband against Partick Thistle

Thistle manager Alan Archibald had few complaints about what is only their second defeat in nine games.

"We didn't do the basics," he said. "Without taking anything away from Dundee, who were very good, we were very poor and I mean the basics, like just clearing your lines and basic defending.

"All the things that we have been very good at in the run we have been on, we didn't do today."

Archibald confirmed before the game that Chris Erskine has agreed to rejoin the club in the summer when his contract runs out at Dundee United, but the Jags boss is also looking to bolster the squad in this transfer window.

"We are trying, actively trying all the time," he said. "It's important that we get the key players back as well.

"We missed a few today with injury and suspension and we hope to get them back and hopefully add one or two."

Archibald says it is vital they get back to winning ways in the near future after second-bottom Kilmarnock picked up a win over Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

"The decent run got us in a good position, but before today we were still only three points above Kilmarnock," he added.

"Now it's all tightened up again and other teams are capable of going on good runs as well."