Alan Stubbs and Mixu Paatelainen were part of Bolton side that reached 1995 League Cup final... now they cross paths again en route to Hampden glory

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In 1995 Mixu Paatelainen and Alan Stubbs were twin pillars of the famous Bolton Wanderers side that won hearts, minds and football matches en route to the English League Cup Final.

The road to Wembley saw the unfashionable second-tier team sweep past Ipswich Town, Sheffield United, West Ham and Norwich City before captain Stubbs and battering-ram striker Paatelainen each scored across a two-legged semi-final win over Swindon Town.

Wanderers were ultimately beaten in the Final by a Liverpool side boasting Anfield greats like Ian Rush, Robbie Fowler, John Barnes and Steve McManaman. Back at Wembley a month later, though, Bruce Rioch’s team won a thrilling Play-Off Final 4-3 against Reading to cement their status as one of the most revered in Bolton’s recent history.

Alan Stubbs (left) and Mixu Paatelainen (right) played alongside each other for Bolton Wanderers

Paatelainen (right) celebrates alongside Owen Coyle after Bolton won the 1995 Play-off final

Now, 20 years on, Paatelainen and Stubbs are on opposing sides just two steps from the Scottish League Cup Final as the Liverpudlian’s Hibs host the Finn’s Dundee United in Wednesday's quarter-final tie at Easter Road.

As the battle of the former Bolton giant-killers commences, however, Paatelainen insists it is his bottom of the Premiership strugglers who should be regarded as the underdog against the high-flying Championship outfit.

‘I played with Alan Stubbs at Bolton and although he was young, he was our captain and a true leader,’ recalled Paatelainen.

‘He was a wonderful player, a really commanding centre half and also a great guy.

‘Together, we reached a League Cup Final with Bolton and it was a great occasion. Alan Thompson scored our goal but Steve McManaman scored two goals for Liverpool and unfortunately they lifted the Cup 2-1.

‘It will be great to meet up again with Alan tonight but I have to say Hibs are the favourites, no question.

‘I do find it strange that Hibs and Rangers are not in the top flight but it was even stranger last season with Hearts down there, too.

‘And the fact is this Hibs side would do well in the Premiership. I’ve no doubts about that at all. That shows you the challenge ahead of us. We’ve not been playing as well as we would have hoped and we are playing against a confident side full of real quality.

Hibs boss Stubbs poses alongside Fraser Fyvie with the Scottish League Cup ahead of Dundee United clash

‘I was at Easter Road on Sunday to see Hibs beat Rangers 2-1 and it was a great attacking game. Hibs started extremely well and they deserved to go 1-0 up with a terrific goal from Jason Cummings.

‘They are a quality team and we need to be ready for whatever comes our way. It will be a tough match.’

For his part, Stubbs is also looking forward to meeting up again with the larger-than-life Paatelainen.

‘Mixu was a big favourite down there — he was big in every sense of the word,’ he smiled. ‘A big, strong guy and very difficult to play against in training but he was a really lovely guy and a very good team-mate in a successful time at Bolton. It will be great to catch up — but hopefully after we win.’

On Saturday, Paatelainen celebrated his first victory since taking over at troubled United from the sacked Jackie McNamara when Ross County were beaten 1-0 at Tannadice through a late Billy Mckay penalty.

Paatelainen, now manager of Dundee United, comes up against former team-mate Stubbs at Easter Road

And despite United sitting two points behind 11th-placed Partick Thistle, the former Kilmarnock and Finland boss insists the aim has to be going one better than McNamara, whose side lost last season’s Final 2-0 to Celtic.

‘We take the cups very seriously,’ insisted Paatelainen.

‘Yes, right now we are bottom of the league and our target is to make sure we stay in the Premiership. But, if possible, we want to win the Cup. That’s our attitude.

‘However, we know we will have to play better than we did against County on Saturday, even if I was over the moon with our fighting spirit. If that continues, we have a chance but we can’t relax or let a feel-good factor drift in just yet.’

Paatelainen is also relishing a return to Easter Road, where he was manager for 16 months before being sacked in May 2009 to make way for John Hughes.

Stubbs (centre) shakes hands with Rangers boss Mark Warburton after Hibs became the first team to beat the Championship leaders this season

A Hibs hero, after scoring the first hat-trick against Hearts since 1967 in a 6-2 Edinburgh derby win in October 2000, Paatelainen was harshly sacked despite steering the Leith club to two top-six finishes. But he has no animosity towards Hibs and hopes that feeling is reciprocated on Wednesday.

‘It was a great time,’ he said. ‘I was still finding my feet as a manager. It was a learning curve.

‘Hibs is a wonderful club with great facilities and excellent people. Will I get a good reception? I don’t know. I’ve only got fond memories and positive feelings towards the club. Hopefully that’s mutual.’

United midfielder Blair Spittal, meanwhile, believes Paatelainen’s public criticism of his side spurred them on to victory against County on Saturday.

The Finn described his players as ‘weak’ after a 5-0 loss at Celtic but rather than demoralise or alienate his players, Spittal believes such straight talking was needed.

He said: ‘The Celtic performance just wasn’t good enough and I think we showed the right reaction (to Paatelainen’s criticism). We all believe we can get a result at Hibs. We know it will be hard but we can get through to the last four.’