Houston wary of threat posed by Queen of the South

Tuesday 25 September 2012

Stuart Armstrong yesterday signed a new contract that will keep him at Dundee United until 2015 but his focus extended no further than tonight.

The rejuvenated Queen of the South goalkeeper, Lee Robinson. Picture: SNS

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Chris Tait

The midfielder joined full-back Keith Watson in extending his stay with the immediate challenge facing the youngsters being to preserve their club's stay in the Scottish Communities League Cup, with United this evening facing a tricky third-round tie away to Queen of the South.

The Taysiders might have simply expected a sightseeing tour in Dumfries given how disparate the clubs have become – Queens were relegated to the Irn-Bru Second Division while the visitors went in search of a place in the Europa League – if only their opponents had not spent the past few weeks taking out their discontent on anyone who hoves into view. Under Allan Johnston, the second-division leaders have been resuscitated to the extent that Hibernian's League Cup ambitions were tripped up in the last round, while Queens thumbed their noses at Rangers by last week putting the Ibrox side out of the Ramsdens Cup.It is that result which has informed United's decision to spend this afternoon in the relative safety of a Dumfries hotel. "We've seen the video footage of Queens. They will probably fancy their chances, and why not?" said Armstrong. "But if we play to our potential we will hopefully be able to see them off."His modesty was outdone by that of his manager. Peter Houston is acutely aware that Queens are unlikely to be intimidated by his side after an unbeaten start to the season and he has sought to make them uncomfortable in their confidence by marking his side as the underdogs. It is unusual for a coach to remark on a poor result before his players face a stern test, but there was something arch about the way Houston harked back to their weekend loss to Hearts."They're doing so well and we were poor on Saturday, so we might now be going in as underdogs," said the United manager, who could give a start to Jon Daly. "Queen of the South knocked Hibs out and beat Rangers. Let's see if our boys can stand up to the challenge."It is a sentiment which is reflected in Lee Robinson. The Queens goalkeeper played a key role in that penalty shoot-out win at Ibrox but succeeding against players of that calibre is something which he could only have hoped for during a dark period of his career.The Englishman had seemed a stable figure for Queens but had become unsettled and opted to sever his ties with the game. Six months passed before a place between the posts again appealed to him, six months of unemployment and solo training which he has credited with ensuring he has been such a bright performer since returning last season to Palmerston."I was in a great position when I was younger but I didn't work hard and probably didn't deserve to be in the position I was in," said the former Rangers youth player. "I took time out as I wasn't enjoying it. It was difficult but I've worked really hard and I want to get back playing at the top level. "I was here and (former manager) Kenny [Brannigan] wanted me to stay and I had a [Challenge] cup final to look forward to, but I wasn't enjoying my football and just wanted to get out of it. Queens brought me back in July and now I'm enjoying it. I couldn't really afford to do it, but I think it was worthwhile doing now. I didn't find a job and it was hard. It obviously did me the world of good because I wasn't really going anywhere. I had a bad year at Kilmarnock and was here for a few months but I wasn't really enjoying it. It was good to get out."Robinson, and Queens, have earned their place in the third round and their manager hopes their efforts will continue to be met with both success and plaudits. "Getting a result would go a long way to the boys getting the recognition they deserve for their performances," said Johnston.

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Houston wary of threat posed by Queen of the South

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