The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Keeper looks for ‘massive boost’
DUNDEE UNITED: Bell wants to make sure of place in Tannadice draw
Cammy Bell hopes to see Dundee United’s name in the mix when the draw for the last 16 of the Beftred Cup is made at Tannadice.
By the time the ceremony takes place inside their own stadium tomorrow teatime the Tangerines will have played Dunfermline in their final Group C game.
Victory will guarantee United at least a spot as a best-placed runner-up behind Inverness, while they can pip the Highlanders if they better their result against Arbroath.
As goalkeeper Bell stressed, that would be a real shot in the arm for Ray McKinnon’s men less than a week before the really serious business – the Championship campaign – kicks off at home to Queen of the South.
“It would be a massive boost for us to go through,” said the Tangerines’ No 1.
“We spoke about the League Cup before the season started and it was stressed that it was a competition we wanted to do well in.”
Lee Ashcroft was embroiled in a bitter relegation battle with Dundee United last season – but the Dunfermline defender hopes he is now poised to enjoy a promotion struggle with tomorrow’s cup opponents.
Ashcroft was at Kilmarnock last term when the Rugby Park outfit were vying with United to avoid dropping out of the Premiership.
The Ayrshire men prevailed but in the end Ashcroft followed the Tangerines into the Championship after being released by Killie and opting to join League One champions Dunfermline.
He said: “I’d like to think I’ll be involved in a better battle with Dundee United this season. Hopefully we’ll be fighting at the top, rather than the bottom.
“It wasn’t a good season for either us at Kilmarnock or for Dundee United last season.
“We were lucky enough to stay up and obviously they got relegated.
“They’ll be a strong team, they’ll be looking to get straight back up and to challenge for that league.
“But we will as well, because I feel that if we keep doing what we’re doing – aside from the result the other night – we could have a good season this year.
“Playing against them before the league starts, it will let us know where we are, because they’re going to be one of the favourites and one of the strongest teams in the league.”
Ashcroft believes tomorrow’s trip to face United, who are a point above the Pars in the Group C table, is the perfect match to try to recover after suffering a 5-1 defeat to Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
He added: “When we came off that park we felt like we hadn’t played too badly.
“I think we were a bit unfortunate at times. It’s a learning thing. If we do go goals down we don’t want to go and get thrashed. On paper, it looks like we’ve been battered but I don’t think it was like that.
“But we’ve got the perfect opportunity to bounce back on Sunday.”
The Betfred Cup’s top scorer, Andy Geggan, is suspended.
Playing against them before the league starts, it will let us know where we are, because they’re going to be one of the favourites. LEE ASHCROFT