Gary Mackay-Steven admits the Scottish Cup was a “bitter-sweet” competition for Dundee United last season.
There were plenty of sweet moments in a campaign that kicked off with a 5-2 demolition of Kilmarncok at Tannadice a year ago.
There was the five-goal Highland fling against Inverness Caley Thistle in the quarter-final then the memorable Nadir Ciftci goal celebration before he tapped home the club’s third in the semi-final against Rangers at Ibrox.
Sadly for Mackay-Steven and his teammates, however, the bitter experience was at Celtic Park on May 17, the Tangerines failing to do themselves justice as they lost 2-0 to St Johnstone in the final.
The Scottish Cup starts again for them on Saturday, when United travel to Fir Park to face still-managerless Motherwell in their fourth-round clash.
Having already secured a League Cup semi-final slot against Aberdeen to be played at the end of January, Mackay-Steven and his colleagues are hoping this season is kind to United in the cups.
“The Scottish Cup is a competition in which the club has done quite well over the last few years,” he said.
“We want to keep that going.
“It was bitter-sweet for us last season, obviously, losing in the final like we did.
“We didn’t cover ourselves in glory that day and we definitely want to try to put it right this season.
“To do so we will need to work hard, starting on Saturday.
“It is great to be involved in the cup games and all the boys look forward to playing in them.
“The atmosphere at games is a little bit different, especially when you get to the latter stages of the tournament.
“It is a big game for us but we are full of confidence going into this tie because of how we played against Kilmarnock and for a large part of the Motherwell game before that.”
United lost 1-0 in the league when they visited Fir Park earlier this month, squandering a number of opportunities in the process.
Mackay-Steven added: “Football can be strange game at times and that was the case against Motherwell that night because we dominated but lost.
“It is all about taking your chances.
“We did that on Saturday against Kilmarnock and won the game as a result.
“It might be a positive that we played Motherwell so recently because we know what to expect from them.
“They deserve respect for what they have done over the last few seasons.
“They are a dangerous team with a lot of good players.
“However, we are playing well at the moment and hopefully we can produce another display this weekend.”
The tannadice men will be without suspended striker Nadir Ciftci as well as injured frontman Mario Bilate.
That will put the onus on the likes of Mackay-Steven to contribute goal threat on Saturday.
He said: “We will be without Nadir and Mario but we have plenty of players who can contribute in the forward positions.
“Against Motherwell the last time we had Ryan Dow up there even though he is anot an out-and-out striker but more of an attacking midfielder.
“Whoever plays at Fir Park, I think we will be able to cause Motherwell problems.”
On a personal note, Mackay-Steven is promising United fans there is more to follow from him this season.
He said: “I have not really got going yet but feel I am fit now.
“I think the best has yet to come from me.”