Levein wary of Airdrie's threat

DUNDEE United manager Craig Levein will not need to give a detailed reminder to his players of the threat posed by Co-Operative Insurance Cup opponents Airdrie United tonight.

According to Levein, one look at Airdrie's win over Hearts in the last round is all the proof his team will require that they can't afford to be complacent when the sides meet at Tannadice.

The First Division side provided the biggest shock of the second round by knocking Levein's former club out of the competition on penalty kicks at Tynecastle last month.

United recorded their first league win of the campaign against Aberdeen last weekend and, having reached the League Cup final last season, they are desperate for a swift return to Hampden.

Levein's respect for Airdrie is highlighted by the fact he has had them watched three times since the draw was made.

Ahead of tonight's match, Levein said: "We don't need any warnings about Airdrie, all we need is to look at the fact they went to Tynecastle and put Hearts out of the competition. That was a fantastic result for them and was thoroughly deserved so we certainly won't underestimate them. Airdrie have started the season really well so they have our respect."

The United manager is close friends with his Airdrie counterpart Kenny Black and he took him to Leicester as part of his backroom staff when he moved south in 2004. Black returned north to join the Lanarkshire side at around the same time as Levein got the United job and he has revitalised the once-ailing club.

"I know Kenny Black really well, he worked with me at Leicester and he's a good mate," said Levein.

"He's done a fantastic job at Airdrie. They are not one of the bigger-spending teams in the league but he's got them playing well and getting results.

"He's brought in some decent players and has really got that club going again. Their defensive record is excellent and I was really impressed by them when I watched them.

"We've had three reports on them and they've all been very positive so we know we're in for a game."

Meanwhile midfielder Prince Buaben has highlighted the improvement he has made to his game since joining United last year.

Buaben's progress from promising youngster to first-team regular has been rapid and the 20-year-old Ghanaian believes he is a much better player for having his first 12 months in Scotland behind him.

He said: "I am a better player now than when I joined the club. I have learned a lot from playing first-team games and I think there is still much more improvement to come.

"I was out of the team at the end of last season but I worked hard during the summer so the manager gave me another chance in the team this year. What I have learned is that you need to work hard all the time because you can always improve on things."

Airdrie, who had made an impressive start in the league as well as sweeping past Hearts in the last round, had their feet firmly planted back on the ground after Saturday's 2-0 defeat by Clyde. Paul Lovering was sent off after only 10 minutes for an off-the-ball incident and the Diamonds' bright start to the season took a jolt when Clyde ran out easy winners thanks to goals from Ricky Waddell and Ruari MacLennan.

Black said: "We had been performing really well, but expectations were beginning to get ahead of themselves. Playing Dundee United allows us to re-focus on what we are good at. We will need to be at our very best to take anything out of this tie."

Joe Cardle is fit again so Black has a full squad to choose from with the exception of the suspended Lovering. The player had only recently returned from a four-match ban and Black said: "With his experience he should have known better than to get involved when there is a big cup tie coming up."