Source: FOOTYMAD
Houston Does Not Have A Problem
Peter Houston is willing to play the games as they are scheduled. Dundee United play Motherwell today in the Scottish Cup quarter finals and manager Peter Houston has promised there will be no excuses if his team's defence of the cup falters amid a heavy fixture schedule. United delivered their third league win in nine days when Jon Daly's injury-time goal ensured a 2-1 win over Hamilton on Thursday evening. When the date for the twice-postponed game was announced, the club issued a statement expressing their disappointment as it was less than three days before today's cup game. However, Houston has rotated his squad to good effect in recent games, resting Craig Conway, Prince Buaben and Danny Swanson from the start against Accies. Daly returned earlier than expected following hernia surgery and he will be joined in the squad at the weekend by Garry Kenneth, who has shrugged off a knee injury. And Houston is confident United will produce a better performance at Tannadice today after a slow start against SPL bottom club Accies, who took the lead before David Goodwillie equalised three minutes before half-time. Houston said: "There is nothing we could do because we've got to fit the fixtures in at some stage. The SPL had to get it in somewhere. I would have liked it in another week but we've got Motherwell in the cup and there is no point mumping and moaning about it. We've got a couple of days' recovery time. We will do very, very little. I will shape the team up on Saturday and probably pick the team on Saturday after a recovery session. We will do very little on Saturday as well. We are focused and, if we don't win the cup tie, I won't stand here saying it was because we were too tired and blaming anybody. We've got a bunch of players who are very fit. They train to a high tempo normally, we have toned it down a wee bit. One thing that's for sure, I'm sure you will see a different Dundee United side from the first half onwards because it's a cup tie against an SPL club, a good side in Motherwell, and we'll be at it on Sunday."Motherwell have not competed in a Scottish Cup semi-final since their 4-3 defeat by Rangers in 2003 and manager Stuart McCall is desperate to lead them back to Hampden in the 20th anniversary year of their epic final triumph over United. If a win was secured today, McCall thinks it would be better than the post game feeling enjoyed after their recent win over Celtic. John Sutton's double ended a three-month unbeaten run for Celtic and secured Motherwell's first win over the Hoops for almost three years. McCall said: "It's a huge match. If we were to win on Sunday and get to the semi-final then it would be bigger than beating Celtic for me. What it means to the club and the fans to get to another semi-final is fantastic. We know it's a tough job. Apart from the Old Firm it is probably the most difficult tie we could have been given. Away at Tannadice - especially with them getting their players back and having three successes - is a hard game. But I believe that if we can perform like we have done in some games this season, and are at our best, then I think it could be a great cup tie. When we've played well we've played very well and we'll need one of those performances to get through on Sunday - but we're capable of it.'' Editor Ger Harley (ger@scottishfitba net)Admin Team (admin@scottishfitba net)This is Scottish-Fitba Net
