JACK HANDLED THE FLAK
RYAN FRASER reckons old mate Ryan Jack shut up both the Aberdeen boo boys and critical Kris Boyd with his excellent Scotland debut.
The Bournemouth winger was full of praise for his ex-Pittodrie colleague on the back of his fine outing against Holland.
Rangers star Jack was plunged into a toxic situation in the Granite City. Asked to operate in a right-back role the Ibrox midfielder had to get to grips with a position that had been alien since his early days as a Red.
Jack also had to cope with scandalous heckling from some local fans within the Scotland sections of the stadium due to his decision to move to Ibrox.
These issues came hard on the heels of Boyd’s brutal claims the 25-year-old had more red cards than good games on his Rangers CV this term and was undeserving of his call-up from caretaker boss Malky Mackay.
Jack though rose above the noise. Competent against the pacy matchwinner Memphis Depay he proved himself well capable of covering a problem position in the Scotland set-up.
Fraser loved it. The pair remain good pals and the Cherries attacker was buzzing at the way his buddy silenced the snipers.
He said: “Jacko did very well. It wasn’t his position and he hasn’t played right-back for Rangers.
“Then he goes in and he’s playing against a world-class player like Depay and keeps him quiet.
“What more can you ask for? If you ask Kris Boyd now I bet he won’t be saying that.
“You also knew he was going to get booed a little bit.
“But because he was having such a good game I don’t think the fans could boo him any more. He did very well and rose above it.
“Where he’s from in Aberdeen as well, it’s not exactly the nicest of places. He’s grown up in a bad part so I’m sure he’s had a lot worse said to him!”
As well as Jack there were a number of local boys who emerged with credit from the contest.
Kenny McLean and Ryan Christie didn’t let themselves down in front of their Aberdeen public while Fraser was able to savour a second cap having come off the bench.
The English Premier League ace believes Mackay’s young squad did themselves no harm in terms of future calls and justified their inclusions. Fraser said: “Everyone was here! Graeme Shinnie, Christie, Jacko. Obviously Shinnie wasn’t at Aberdeen but I know him as a Cove lad where I lived as well.
“I was actually a bit gutted we stayed in Edinburgh because I wanted to stay here and see all the old faces.
“I haven’t really been in Aberdeen for about three years so it was nice to get back and it brought back a few memories.
“My family still live up here. There was eight of them in total. My mum and dad, my uncle and cousins and that. I do miss the place and it was nice to see the younger ones as well.
“Everyone in the squad was the same age at around 20 to 25. It’s a young squad yet we can compete with the likes of Holland who put out a very strong team.
“We shouldn’t have lost the game and can take positives out of that.
“I think the whole squad saw the Boyd comments. We were eating one night and you see him saying it.
“It’s not for me to say but I’ve grown up with them, I’ve came up through the ranks with them and they deserve the call-up as much as everyone else
“I don’t know what he’s speaking about. He’s entitled to his opinion. Just because he says it doesn’t mean he’s right and it doesn’t mean he’s wrong.
“You just need to get on with it. As a player, if he is going to say stuff like that you just need to rise above it all.
“I know Aberdeen and Kilmarnock are playing in a couple of weeks’ time and he’s taken his anger out on Shinnie as well and they’re both captains so we’ll see how that one goes.”
Fraser missed a golden chance to nab a draw for his team when he shot wide in the closing stages.
But he was happy with his impact off the bench on his return to Pittodrie and hopes it can kickstart improved fortunes south of the border.
He said: “I wanted to start. But it doesn’t always work out like that and I can make an immediate impact when I do come on.
“When I get my chance I just want to take it.
“I had a chance and it was kind of how my season has been. I get to the end, do all the hard work then miss the easy bit. “I’ve got my confidence back because I do it in training all the time and I get there in games and it just doesn’t come off for me. “I’ve hit the post a couple of times this season when you think the ball’s going in so I just need that little bit of luck. When that comes I know I’ll score goals. “It hasn’t been a struggle. Bournemouth’s a tough squad to get into but I’ve been involved. “I’ve started five games in the league, I’ve came on in most matches and I’ve had injuries. I’ve scored in the Cup as well. “It’s a difficult league. When you do get your chance and miss when you should score it is pretty hard to take. “That’s the difference between teams these days. I wouldn’t say I’m struggling but I’m not having the same season I was having last term. “I just need a little bit of luck. I’ve spoke to the gaffer Eddie Howe about it and it’s not about confidence or that, it’s just about a little bit of luck. “Once that happens I’ll be back to my best.”