Partick boss John Lambie has blasted football's ruling bodies ahead of the CIS Insurance Cup clash with Dundee.

He claims they have introduced rules that have made his side's tough survival task in the top flight even more difficult.

Struggling Thistle are in desperate need of a striker and cannot move until UEFA's transfer window reopens in January.

And on top of that, Lambie claims he is restricted by the Scottish Premier League's pre-occupation with under-21 players.

"I don't agree with the transfer window," he said. "It's putting players out of jobs and it's put us in a difficult situation.

"You also have to have two under-21s on the bench. I think that's ludicrous. They're dictating who we can play. Why can't we put whoever we want on the bench? It's a disgrace."

Lambie has no fresh injury worries to contend with after the 3-0 home defeat by Hibernian at the weekend.

Meanwhile, Dundee boss Jim Duffy admits his side face a difficult clash.

The Dark Blues have already ridden their luck against the newly-promoted Jags this season when they escaped from Glasgow with a point.

And now Duffy insists they will have to battle all the way to make it into the quarter-final draw.

Duffy said: "There are definitely easier places to go than Firhill and I've got a lot of respect for John Lambie.

"They outplayed us in the league a few weeks ago when we were happy to get a point.

"I've got a lot of affection for them because I used to play there and was brought up close to their ground.

"I'll have a few friends going to the game from Maryhill but I'm concentrating only on Dundee getting through.

"We're becoming harder to beat and we'll need to show a lot of resolve and endeavour again."