Kirk knows the challenge

"He (Levein) was a good player and he was a great manager when I worked under him at Hearts, it is no surprise that he is doing well at Dundee United."

The Co-operative Insurance Cup Third Round Team of the Round
  

Andy Kirk is hoping to take Dunfermline into the Co-operative Insurance Cup Semi Final draw by defeating Dundee United on Tuesday night.

"We have been doing well of late in the league. We have a good squad and have been playing really well going into this game. Obviously they are a Premierleague team with lots of good players. It will be tough game for us but we have to go there and prove that we are a good side. You never know what can happen in football."

The Irishman reached the last four of the competition in season 2002-03 while with Hearts. Back then his manager was Craig Levein and of course the Quarter Final tie sees him line up against Levein's charges for the first time in competitive action since coming back north from Yeovil Town for the start of this season. Andy is full of admiration for what Levein achieved at Tynecastle:-

"Craig is a really good manager, he did it with Hearts and has got a good squad together with Dundee United. I had a few good games for him at Hearts. He is tough and demands 100% of you. His teams are very organised and I am looking forward to seeing him again. Hopefully it will be a great game.

"After playing for Jim Jeffries I was in the Hearts team when he took over but he gave me a new contract. It was good working for him. We had a lot of good games and finished third, there were European games - it was all good times."

Andy faced opposition like Stuttgart and Bordeaux and was in a Hearts team under Levein that were serious contenders to be runners up to the Old Firm. Still the respect is there for his former gaffer:-

"He was a good player and he was a great manager when I worked under him at Hearts, it is no surprise that he is doing well at Dundee United."

Lets hope the umbrellas are unnecessary!