Paul Dixon insists Dundee United won’t dwell on their Falkirk failure because there is too much at stake in tonight’s Betfred Cup quarter-final against Morton.
According to Dixon, the Tangerines will have fully recovered from the painful defeat against the Bairns on Saturday night, conceding two goals in the closing minutes to lose 3-1.
While the Championship campaign is the priority for everyone at Tannadice this season, this cup trip to Cappielow offers the United players a golden chance to reach the semi-final of a national tournament at Hampden.
With such an enticing opportunity standing in front of them, Dixon feels there will be no hangover from the league defeat.
He said: “It was a bad one to take – two goals in two or three minutes right at the death.
“That was the league, though, and this is the cup.
“It’s a one-off game.
“There is a lot at stake so I am sure it will be easy to get right back up for it.
“It is a great chance to get to a semi-final at Hampden and these games are the ones in which everyone wants to play.
“You want to be involved in these showpiece occasions as a player and we will be doing our utmost to get through.
“The boys know how much it means to play in a semi-final and, ultimately we hope, a final.
“We all want that and the lads will all be self-motivated for this one.”
Morton are, of course, managed by the wily former Dundee manager Jim Duffy and he is someone who has played a major role in Dixon’s career.
The former Dens full-back said: “Jim Duffy gave me my first professional contract.
“I have a lot of respect for him and appreciation towards him because he was the one who gave me my big break at Dundee.
“That was my start in the game at first-team level.
“Unfortunately, I think it was only three games into my first season that he was sacked so I didn’t get that long a time to work with him.
“However, I know that he has been in the game a long, long time as player and manager and is respected by a lot of people.
“He is highly regarded in Scottish football and will be setting his team up to be difficult for us to beat.
“Cappielow is not an easy place to visit at any time.
“I have been there with Dundee and it has never been easy to win there.
“They have also brought in Gavin Gunning, whom we all know well, and he will be keen to get one over on United after what happened in the past.
“Gavin is a good defender and I’m sure he will shore up their backline so it will be tough.
“We have to go there fully focused and make sure we are strong, both mentally and physically.”
United don’t have their selection problems to seek but Dixon is backing the team to cope in adversity.
He added: “You just have to get on with it.
“We have injuries but there are players there to step up and take their chance and show the manager that they are ready.
“They know they have to produce when given the opportunity in order to make it hard for the manager to bring the injured player back when fit.
“It is all about competition for places and that’s just how football is.
“Whoever puts the jersey on has to give their all and I’m sure that will happen at Cappielow.”
