Rab Douglas produced a goalkeeping masterclass to ensure Dundee left windswept Firhill with a point.
The Dark Blues went into this clash bidding to close the gap on Ross County to one point. However, in the end they were grateful to their veteran keeper for denying Thistle the victory their second-half display just about merited.
Douglas, though, remained defiant, particularly with saves from Stephen O’Donnell and Kris Doolan that broke home hearts.
Delighted with another clean sheet, the former Scotland number one later revealed that the shocking conditions may have converted him to the notion of summer football.
Douglas said: ”The saves were pleasing and the second one was probably better. It was a good ball in and a great header which I saw late. The saves kept us in it but we missed a good chance ourselves in the first half.
”We should have taken it and if we had it would have been a different game.”
Indeed, the Dark Blues should have been ahead with their first meaningful attack when Dundee’s Stephen O’Donnell’s early pass exposed a gaping hole in the home defence. Ross Chisholm and Ryan Conroy exchanged passes before Jamie McCluskey fed Gavin Rae inside the six-yard box.
The former Scotland midfielder, perhaps surprised that none of his colleagues had taken the opportunity to shoot, saw his effort blocked on the line by Aaron Sinclair.
Stevie Milne then raced at the Jags defence, outstripping two, before firing an angled effort wide of the far post.
Dundee continued to carry a greater attacking threat throughout the first period and McCluskey’s mazy run had the hosts back-tracking frantically. The little striker then set up Rae, whose first-time shot from the edge of the box looked to be heading for the top corner until Scott Fox managed to parry it behind.
Thistle responded when Paul Cairney found Tommy Stewart on the edge of the Dundee box, and his shot on the turn had Douglas scrambling as the ball drifted inches wide.
A Jags breakaway should have brought the opener in 35 minutes when Christie Elliot burst down the right wing before picking out Stewart. However, with just Douglas to beat, the Thistle striker blazed a foot over the bar.
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Stewart was through again on the restart after a precise Paul Cairney pass but Neil McGregor was on hand to clear the danger.
At the other end Fox pulled off a marvellous diving save from Conroy’s drive. But Douglas matched that effort by parrying O’Donnell’s downward header following a pinpoint cross from Sinclair.
The big Dundee keeper did even better on 72 minutes when Cairney’s cross picked out Doolan, whose header looked destined for the net.
However, the Jags’ substitute was denied a goal with his first touch when Douglas, showing superb reflexes and strength, managed to claw the ball away.
Thistle also had a couple of penalty claims turned down as the game reached a frenetic conclusion. And the Jags went within a whisker of winning it at the death when Doolan’s diving header grazed the outside of a post.
Douglas said: ”Any keeper claiming a clean sheet in these conditions would be delighted. I’ve never been sure about summer football but after that I might change my mind.
”It was horrible and you saw Aaron’s (Sinclair) cross in the first half which looked to be going over by miles and in the end I had to tip it over the back post.”
He added: ”Obviously we were looking for the win but we’re coming away from a hard ground with a point and we’ll take it. We’re still up there in the mix and so are Partick Thistle and a few other teams probably the more teams that think they can catch Ross County the better for us.”
Reserving special praise for his keeper, Dens boss Barry Smith also admitted he was content to head home with a point.
Smith said: ”We look on it more as a point gained rather than two dropped because Firhill is a very difficult place to come. Obviously with Ross County being idle you are looking to take advantage but it wasn’t to be.
”After the midweek exertions we had in the cup game and playing on another heavy park we’ll accept a point even if we’re not happy.”
He added: ”We had a great chance early on and you’re looking for somebody to take responsibility and finish it. Rab’s saves were great but you come to expect that from him. Maybe that’s not right but he does it so often. He is just a great professional.”
Thistle assistant manager Simon Donnelly was left ruing a series of missed chances in the second half.
He said: ”We definitely had the better of the second half with two or three headers and you’re looking for one of them to go in. Rab Douglas has been making these sort of saves throughout his career but on a different day one of them goes in.
”I’ve said to the boys they can take a lot of positives from today after two disappointing games. I think a neutral watching would have said we looked more likely to score especially in the second half and we thought we should have had a penalty for a hand ball.”