The Scottish Cup brought out the very best in Dundee United last season, and Hampden hero Garry Kenneth believes it can do the same again this year.
The central defender insisted that not only can the Tannadice squad cope with the intense spotlight that goes with being the holders, they can be inspired by it.
There is no getting away from the fact United are now viewed as a side cut out for cup success several recent appearances in finals and semi-finals has ensured that and that is just the way they like it.
“The focus will be on us tomorrow,” Kenneth said. “The chairman, the manager and the supporters all expect us to get to finals. We thrived on that last year and there’s no reason why we can’t thrive on it again.”
The draw has brought United back together with the club they defeated in last May’s final, Ross County, giving extra spice to fourth round weekend.
Kenneth added, “It’s a huge game for us because we want to get to another final. Getting back to Hampden is what we all want.
“We’re only going to get there through hard work though and playing well tomorrow, for starters.
“We’re well aware how tough a test Ross County will be, but we’re really looking forward to playing them again.”
A cup run is important enough in itself, but the Scotland international is giving equal weight to the boost it could give to their league form.
He said, “We know that good results in the cup can help you in the league because it happened to us last year. We hadn’t picked up many points around Christmas but we got going after we beat Partick Thistle. It was definitely a catalyst.
“Hearts are pushing on just now and so are Kilmarnock so we really need to get back to winning ways in the SPL as well.”
Today’s match will break a run of 12 consecutive away cup-ties for United.
“It’s a long time ago since we last played at Tannadice in a cup, so it will be good to be back here at last”, Kenneth added.
“The last thing we want is for us to lose after such a long wait. We want to put on a show for our supporters. We know it will be a tough game but everybody is really looking forward to it.”Transfer speculationUnited have a number of players out of contract in the summer, including Craig Conway, Prince Buaben and Morgaro Gomis.
David Goodwillie is the subject of transfer speculation during the current transfer window.
The squad may be similar to the one which lifted the cup, but that probably will not be the case at the end of the season.
With that in mind, captain Jon Daly knows this will be the last chance of silverware for this United side.
He said, “There are a few boys whose deals run out in July. That’s a situation the chairman and manager will have to look at, but if it’s going to be that this will be the last season of this particular team, we want to finish on a high.”
Becoming the first Tannadice team to win back-to-back Scottish Cups would certainly ensure that.
Daly added, “Last season was right up there with anything I’ve achieved in the game and it’s given us a taste to go and do it again.
“It’s going to be tough to retain the cup. You come up against teams who are playing against the holders and will raise their game five or 10% because of that.
“I’m sure the manager will be mentioning that no United team has defended the trophy in the club’s history before the match. It would certainly be a nice thing to do and will give us extra motivation.
“Ross County would probably hold their hands up and say they didn’t perform in the final. They’ll be looking for a bit of revenge and we have to make sure that doesn’t happen.
“When you’re playing a first division team you know they’ll be looking to claim an SPL scalp so you have to be up for it as much as they are.
“We got a really tough scrap at this stage of the competition last year against Partick Thistle.”
United will have to do without three of their Hampden line-up as Goodwillie is suspended, Craig Conway is still some way off a first team return and Danny Swanson picked up a hamstring injury in training this week.
Houston said, “It’s good to get a home tie, because we haven’t had one of those for a while. We haven’t had a home game of any kind for a long time.
“Not many teams retain the Scottish Cup so it would be up there with anything this club has done in the past if we could do it. But that is far too far in the future. Ross County are a good side and our focus is only on them tomorrow.”Transfer speculationUnited have a number of players out of contract in the summer, including Craig Conway, Prince Buaben and Morgaro Gomis.
David Goodwillie is the subject of transfer speculation during the current transfer window.
The squad may be similar to the one which lifted the cup, but that probably will not be the case at the end of the season.
With that in mind, captain Jon Daly knows this will be the last chance of silverware for this United side.
He said, “There are a few boys whose deals run out in July. That’s a situation the chairman and manager will have to look at, but if it’s going to be that this will be the last season of this particular team, we want to finish on a high.”
Becoming the first Tannadice team to win back-to-back Scottish Cups would certainly ensure that.
Daly added, “Last season was right up there with anything I’ve achieved in the game and it’s given us a taste to go and do it again.
“It’s going to be tough to retain the cup. You come up against teams who are playing against the holders and will raise their game five or 10% because of that.
“I’m sure the manager will be mentioning that no United team has defended the trophy in the club’s history before the match. It would certainly be a nice thing to do and will give us extra motivation.
“Ross County would probably hold their hands up and say they didn’t perform in the final. They’ll be looking for a bit of revenge and we have to make sure that doesn’t happen.
“When you’re playing a first division team you know they’ll be looking to claim an SPL scalp so you have to be up for it as much as they are.
“We got a really tough scrap at this stage of the competition last year against Partick Thistle.”
United will have to do without three of their Hampden line-up as Goodwillie is suspended, Craig Conway is still some way off a first team return and Danny Swanson picked up a hamstring injury in training this week.
Houston said, “It’s good to get a home tie, because we haven’t had one of those for a while. We haven’t had a home game of any kind for a long time.
“Not many teams retain the Scottish Cup so it would be up there with anything this club has done in the past if we could do it. But that is far too far in the future. Ross County are a good side and our focus is only on them tomorrow.”Transfer speculationUnited have a number of players out of contract in the summer, including Craig Conway, Prince Buaben and Morgaro Gomis.
David Goodwillie is the subject of transfer speculation during the current transfer window.
The squad may be similar to the one which lifted the cup, but that probably will not be the case at the end of the season.
With that in mind, captain Jon Daly knows this will be the last chance of silverware for this United side.
He said, “There are a few boys whose deals run out in July. That’s a situation the chairman and manager will have to look at, but if it’s going to be that this will be the last season of this particular team, we want to finish on a high.”
Becoming the first Tannadice team to win back-to-back Scottish Cups would certainly ensure that.
Daly added, “Last season was right up there with anything I’ve achieved in the game and it’s given us a taste to go and do it again.
“It’s going to be tough to retain the cup. You come up against teams who are playing against the holders and will raise their game five or 10% because of that.
“I’m sure the manager will be mentioning that no United team has defended the trophy in the club’s history before the match. It would certainly be a nice thing to do and will give us extra motivation.
“Ross County would probably hold their hands up and say they didn’t perform in the final. They’ll be looking for a bit of revenge and we have to make sure that doesn’t happen.
“When you’re playing a first division team you know they’ll be looking to claim an SPL scalp so you have to be up for it as much as they are.
“We got a really tough scrap at this stage of the competition last year against Partick Thistle.”
United will have to do without three of their Hampden line-up as Goodwillie is suspended, Craig Conway is still some way off a first team return and Danny Swanson picked up a hamstring injury in training this week.
Houston said, “It’s good to get a home tie, because we haven’t had one of those for a while. We haven’t had a home game of any kind for a long time.
“Not many teams retain the Scottish Cup so it would be up there with anything this club has done in the past if we could do it. But that is far too far in the future. Ross County are a good side and our focus is only on them tomorrow.”