I’m up for promotion more than cup glory
BY EUAN McARTHUR ROBBIE NEILSON insists only promotion back to the Premiership – and not cup glory – will make up for Dundee United’s years in the doldrums.
The Tangerines boss is hoping to dump Championship rivals Inverness in tomorrow’s televised quarter-final showdown at Tannadice.
But Neilson admits even if United get to May’s showpiece it would be a bonus with their top priority securing a return to the top flight at the third attempt.
He said: “It would be good for the fans but one appearance at Hampden, and even if we get further, isn’t going to make up for the four or five years of issues we’ve had here.
“We’ve still got to get promoted, that’s the main objective, to get out of this league and start building.
“It’s about momentum and taking wee steps at a time. It’s a big game tomorrow and we have to take care of that.”
Neilson knows dugout rival Robertson well from their time at Tynecastle.
And he expects the ex-Hearts manager to have a trick or two up his sleeve to stop United progressing in a cup they haven’t won since 2010.
He said: “John is clever. He might change the shape and he is usually very attack-minded.”
“I played under him at Hearts with Donald Park so I know first-hand how much he wants to win.
“He is attack-minded and will never sit back.”