Goals by Georgi Nemsadze and Gavin Rae give Dundee a deserved victory over Partick Thistle.

Thistle only started playing in the second half but they could not beat Julian Speroni in the visitors' goal.

The home side nearly took an early lead when midfielder Jamie Mitchell found himself through only eight yards from goal but a last-gasp tackle from Zurab Khizanishvili prevented deadlock being broken.

In the 10th minute, Garry Brady had the first effort on goal but the midfielder's low drive was well saved by Thistle keeper Kenny Arthur.

Four minutes later, the visitors took the lead with a tremendous goal after Thistle midfielder Martin Hardie carelessly fouled Dens stopper Lee Wilkie 25 yards from goal.

Nemsadze, playing his first game for two months after knee ligament problems, stepped up to flight a tremendous free-kick over the Jags wall and into the top corner.

Dundee were on top but Thistle almost equalised in the 21st minute when Gerry Britton's volley from 12 yards was stopped only by a flying Julian Speroni save.

Thistle were struggling and an Alex Burns free-kick, which went high and wide, seemed to sum up the home side's play.

Gavin Rae was on target for Dundee

The home side seemed eager to get an equaliser as the second half began but it was Dundee who threatened first, Nacho Novo's angled volley from 10 yards forcing Arthur into a good diving save.

Thistle continued to push for the equaliser and in the 58th minute, a Burns corner from the right had the Dens defence in all sorts of trouble but still they held firm.

On the hour mark, a remarkable run from Lee Wilkie took him from defence all the way to the edge of the Thistle box, but the Scotland international's low drive was easily saved by Arthur.

Five minutes later, an angled shot from Rae had Arthur beating the ball behind at the expense of a corner.

In the 81st minute, Rae put the tie beyond the home side when he scored number two from close range at the second attempt after Arthur had bravely saved his first effort.

In the closing stages, Novo and Wilkie both hit woodwork as the Dens Park side finished strongly.

Partick: Arthur, Lilley, Craigan, Paterson, Archibald, Mitchell (Walker 71), Buchan (McKinstry 10), Lennon, Hardie, Burns, Britton.

Subs Not Used: Budinauckas, Gibson, Waddell.

Dundee: Speroni, Mackay, Mair, Wilkie, Smith, Rae, Nemsadze, Khizanishvili, Novo, Brady, Milne.

Subs Not Used: Langfield, Robertson, Beith, Forbes, Robb.

Booked: Wilkie.

Att: 4,825