Dundee United aim to avenge Ibrox thrashing

ACTIVE NATION SCOTTISH CUP: Rangers v Dundee United
Venue: Ibrox Stadium Date: Sunday 14 March Kick-off: 1205 GMT
Coverage: Watch on BBC Two Scotland. Listen on BBC Radio Scotland and BBC Sport website; text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles

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United progress 'on schedule' - Houston

Dundee United are desperate to make amends for their 7-1 thrashing by Rangers in December when the sides meet in the Scottish Cup on Sunday.

With a semi-final place up for grabs, United hope to atone for that heavy loss in Glasgow.

"We didn't do ourselves justice last time we were at Ibrox," said Houston.

"Players are always wanting to improve on their last performance and our players have plenty to improve on from their last Ibrox performance."

The 7-1 reverse was United's heaviest league defeat for more than half a century and came in what was Houston's second match in temporary charge

Following the rout, Houston apologised to fans and said he had no desire to succeed Craig Levein as manager.

However, Levein's former assistant has overseen a renaissance since and agreed to stay on until the end of the season, with United currently third in the Scottish Premier League.

MY SPORT: DEBATE Can United cause an upset at Ibrox?

As well as the players, the manager also has a point to prove after the thrashing called into question his credentials to succeed Levein.

"I'll probably use it to my benefit in many ways," he said of December's embarrassing result.

"We'd just lost Craig to the Scotland job and the players were wondering what was going to happen."

United's only Scottish Cup success came in 1994 with a 1-0 win against Rangers and the Tayside outfit have made life difficult for the SPL leaders in recent years.

The sides drew twice on league duty last season, including a thrilling 3-3 at Ibrox.

And United, who have been losing finalists on seven occasions, came out on top when the teams last met in the competition - a 1-0 quarter-final win at Tannadice in 2001.

Houston added: "If we go in there and play at 100%, we still have to hope Rangers aren't 100% at their best. But it's a one-off game.

"It's something that we're not scared about. We'll not go there thinking we don't want to get beaten 7-1 again.

"We'll go there positive and try to win because the players have got the results recently."

The visitors will have to do without Andy Webster since the terms of his loan agreement do not allow the defender to play against his parent club.

Meanwhile, left-back Paul Dixon could be out for up to a month after suffering an ankle injury in Sunday's 1-0 win over Hearts.