Source: Team_Talk
Cadamarteri praises Terrors boss
Danny Cadamarteri has hailed Peter Houston for reinvigorating Dundee United's shellshocked players following the departure of Craig Levein.[LNB] Houston is on the brink of masterminding United's greatest season for 15 years, with Sunday's Active Nation Scottish Cup semi-final against Raith Rovers the first of up to eight games that could yield a trophy and third place in the SPL.[LNB]It is a far cry from the end of 2009, when the club's entire campaign threatened to go off the rails after Levein left to become Scotland manager.[LNB]Caretaker boss Houston's first few games in charge proved a chastening experience and he initially withdrew from the race to succeed Levein.[LNB]But he soon steadied the ship and the club are now playing as well as they ever did under his long-time mentor.[LNB]Striker Cadamarteri said: "It was always going to be a massive shellshock, Craig Levein leaving.[LNB]"He bought pretty much all the players here and was like a father figure to them.[LNB]"To lose somebody so influential - not just on the football pitch but in these players' lives - was going to be a massive shock.[LNB]"Houstie obviously did well to pick up the pieces of that and keep a lot of normality in the squad.[LNB]"He's laid a platform for us to build a little bit of stability and push on from.[LNB]"It's just a case now of keeping the same mentality we've had all the way through the season."[LNB]Raith defender Grant Murray is looking to end his 12-year quest for a Scottish Cup final appearance on Sunday.[LNB]Murray was an unused substitute for Hearts when they beat Rangers 2-1 in the 1998 final at Celtic Park.[LNB]The 34-year-old thought his chance of cup glory had gone when he signed for Rovers last summer so he is desperate now to take the final step.[LNB]"I was fortunate to be part of the Hearts squad that won the cup in 1998," the former Partick and Kilmarnock player said.[LNB]"I was on the bench that day and didn't get on but it was great just to be involved.[LNB]"It's something that lives with you for the rest of your life.[LNB]"There was Jim Hamilton, John Robertson and myself on the bench and I was hoping to get on.[LNB]"Every time a player went down, you were jumping up saying 'I want on, I want on', but it was one of these things.[LNB]"Hearts hadn't won the cup for years; they were winning 2-1 against Rangers, who were throwing everything at them, so it was a case of hanging on for the final whistle and they managed to do it.[LNB]"I definitely thought my chance had gone when I came to Raith Rovers.[LNB]"They had just been promoted from the Second Division, trying to establish themselves and stay in the First Division.[LNB]"But once you get on that cup run, win one game then win another, you build up momentum and players then realise they have nothing to fear."
