A perfect penalty from striker Nadir Ciftci moved Dundee United back to within a point of shock Premiership leaders Hamilton Accies.
The Turk earned and then scored the 84th-minute spotkick that secured a 1-0 home win over Partick Thistle at Tannadice.
Ciftci, who had endured a frustrating afternoon until then, raced on to a forward ball from Sean Dillon before being chopped down inside the box by Danny Seabourne, who was ordered off.
The frontman did a little dance during his run-up then stroked the ball to keeper Scott Fox’s right as the Thistle goalie dived to his left in front of the Eddie Thompson Stand.
United had made only one change to the line-up that started the defeat at Kilmarnock, with Gary Mackay-Steven on for Ryan Dow, who dropped down to the bench.
On 21 minutes, their keeper Rado Cierniak did well to smother a shot from Christie Elliott, then just seconds later Ciftci shot into the sidenetting for the hosts.
A great one-two involving Stuart Armstrong and Mackay-Steven sent the former clear but his shot went just wide of the Partick post.
The Tangerines should have scored just before the break when Armstrong picked out Ciftci inside the box but the Turk’s strike was saved by Fox.
Ten minutes into the second period, Cierzniak had to dive low to his left to palm a shot from Steven Lawless around the post as Thistle pressed.
Then, at the other end, Fox saved a Ciftci strike from the edge of the box.
Partick came within the width of the bar of taking the lead on 65 minutes with a curling shot from Elliott that crashed off the woodwork.
The game turned with just six minutes to go, though, when Ciftci chased a long ball from Dillon before being tripped by Seabourne.
The Thistle defender was sent packing by referee Steven McLean for the challenge and Ciftci stepped up to score the penalty and make it 1-0 to United.
A neat flick from Ciftci then sent Mackay-Steven off and running before he was fouled at the edge of the area. This time Fox did well to save Ciftci’s freekick.
It was nearly two in stoppage-time when sub Blair Spittal’s netbound shot was blocked but one goal was enough for United.
Attendance: 6,736.
United team: Cierzniak, Watson, Morris, Fojut, Dillon, Paton (Dow 64), Rankin, Armstrong (Spittal 69), Mackay-Steven, Erskine (Connolly 79), Ciftci. Subs not used: Szromnik, Telfer, Smith, Townsend.
Referee: Steven McLean.