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No time for silky soccer: Peter Houston determined not to fall to shock troops at Stranraer

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Dundee United boss Peter Houston has ordered his players to ensure there is not a shock in Stranraer.

The Tangerines travel to Stair Park tomorrow in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup and the fact Houston has had the Division Two side watched three times is an indicator of the respect he has for them.

After seeing his own players fall behind again when Motherwell won at Tannadice in the league on Tuesday night, Houston is in no mood for an upset this weekend.

”The Scottish Cup has always thrown up a shock or two over the years so we have to ensure we are not the shock,” he said.

”We are going to a tough venue and it is not going to be a day for silky soccer, that’s for sure.

”It’s going to be all about winning a cup-tie and getting the sleeves rolled up and stuck in from the word go.

”To be honest, I would take any kind of win. We are taking nothing for granted.

”We have had them watched three times and have four separate reports on them from the coaching staff, including myself.

”The information is detailed and has been given to each individual player so there won’t be any surprises when they get out on to the park on Saturday.

”Now it’s up to us to do our business. If we play like we can we should win but it doesn’t always work like that.”

Houston’s major task going into the kick-off of the cup campaign is to try to put a stop to the team’s predilection to gift the lead to the opposition.

The Well match was sixth time in the last seven games in which they have conceded first.

Houston said: ”We are putting so much into games, as we are continually having to come from behind to try and salvage things, which has got to stop.

”We are getting two different performances: one for the first 20 minutes and one for the rest of the 90.

”We have to make sure that we show a level of consistency, stop making these early mistakes and giving away cheap goals.

”When you look at our second half performance the other night against Motherwell, their manager Stuart McCall even said that we battered them and deserved something from the game.

”However, we have to do something about it rather than talking about it all the time. As they say, actions speak louder than words.”

Houston realises that the fans are getting frustrated but insists everyone at the club is doing all they can in order to turn things round.

He added: ”What makes it difficult for me is that the players are coming off the park and I’m saying to them how well they have played but we are not getting the proper result.

”We are not that far off second place in the league and I look at the points we have dropped and it makes you think. That is the frustrating thing.

”The players are every bit as fed up as me but we need to focus a bit more and concentrate on not losing the first goal.

”I can understand the fans’ frustration but they are no more frustrated than myself or the players.”

United have an injury doubt over defender Sean Dillon (thigh strain) while midfielder Willo Flood should recover from an ankle knock.

Houston said: ”Willo should be all right. Sean has a bit of thigh strain which bled the other night so it might be a bit touch and go for him to be fit. Also, Gavin Gunning twisted his ankle which is a wee bit puffy.

”There have been a lot of games recently which takes its toll on what is basically the same group of players.”

iroache@thecourier.co.uk