Source: Team_Talk
Houston: Bans won't weaken Gers
Light Blues boss Walter Smith will be without Kevin Thomson for the Scottish Cup quarter-final replay at Tannadice after he was sent off for a horror tackle on St Mirren's Graham Carey.[LNB]Lee McCulloch is also banned after going through the disciplinary threshold, but Danny Wilson - also sent off in the Co-operative Insurance Cup final on Sunday - is free to play.[LNB]Thomson and McCulloch have been key players for Rangers this season but Houston insists Smith's squad is so packed with quality that he will be able to call upon several able replacements.[LNB]He said: "A lot of people will think that because Rangers are missing Kevin Thomson and Lee McCulloch we've got a better chance than normal.[LNB]"But I don't buy into that at all. We will still need to be at it, at our very best and do the things we work on.[LNB]"Because Rangers are losing a few big players that doesn't necessarily make it easier for us and that's something I've drummed into the players.[LNB]"Just because one or two are not there they still have plenty of quality to bring in.[LNB]"They will have their crowd behind them and they have their battling qualities so there's no way it ever gets easier against the Old Firm."[LNB]United have lost to Rangers on their last two visits to Tayside so Houston is eager to make it third time lucky for his men.[LNB]The Tangerines had a good record against them in Dundee until recently so are keen to get back to winning ways.[LNB]Houston said: "Rangers have beaten us the last few times here.[LNB]"On the final day last season they had to win for the league and we had to get a point for Europe.[LNB]"That day they started better than us and that's something we can't let happen again.[LNB]"I think they know coming here is a difficult place so they had that in mind and that's why they started so well.[LNB]"This time we need to be right up there with them, match them in everything.[LNB]"I don't think there's any point trying to contain them, the best way to approach it is by attacking.[LNB]"As long as you're sensible at the back then it's the best thing to do.[LNB]"It's a cup game, a one-off so if you need to take a risk late in the game then it's worth doing it."[LNB]United are without Andy Webster, who cannot play under the terms of his loan from Rangers, but Mihael Kovacevic is fit after a hamstring injury.[LNB]Left-back Paul Dixon is recovering from an ankle injury but is unlikely to make it.[LNB][LNB] Dundee Utd v Rangers. Click here to bet.
