Dundee United defender Keith Watson has admitted he will be on a revenge mission when he lines up against Inverness Caley Thistle on Sunday.
Watson scored a wonder goal to open the scoring for the Tangerines in their League Cup quarter-final clash in the Highland capital on October 29.
That was as good as it got for the visitors, though, as they went on to have forward Nadir Ciftci controversially ordered off and lose the tie in the last minute of extra time.
The sight of Ross Draper scoring for the home side with just seconds to go before a penalty shoot-out was a painful one for Watson. Now he would love to turn the tables on Inverness when the sides meet on league business this weekend.
“It was definitely the lowest point of the season for us,” said Watson.
“We wanted to go far in the competition and to lose such a massive game so late on was absolutely devastating. Now we want to get one back on them. We want to go up there and get a bit of revenge.
“We could have been looking forward to a semi-final and a great day out for the fans and everyone at the club. Instead we were knocked out.
“We were one up going into half-time. I had scored a decent goal and while we weren’t cruising, we were comfortable. The sending-off of Nadir changed the game and we were on the back foot because Inverness had the extra man.
“They scored pretty early in the second half and we did well to hang on for extra time. I remember thinking that we would settle for penalties because we were a man down, but Inverness got the late winner.
“It is always tough up there but I thought we did okay the last time with our 10 men and were unlucky to lose with a last-minute goal.”
United, who could give a debut to new striker Farid El Alagui, produced their very own late show last Sunday to draw 2-2 with Hibs after trailing by two going into the last seven minutes at Tannadice.
That stopped the rot of a three-game losing run and Watson is looking for the momentum from the fightback to carry on into Sunday’s lunchtime encounter.
“The boys did really well to pull it back and they don’t know when they are beaten,” he said.
“We could have even nicked another one near the end there, given the way we finished the game. That shows you that there is a fighting spirit at the club and we should take confidence from that comeback.”
Watson has had to be patient as McNamara has rotated him and Mark Wilson in the right-back position this season. With Wilson ruled out with a stomach injury, however, he is odds-on to start.
Watson added: “Sean Dillon came on at right-back on Sunday to replace Mark and did well, so the gaffer has that option, but hopefully I will get the nod.”