NO DREAM MOVE
Fraser insists Cup Final must stay at Hampden
MARCUS FRASER says all Scottish players dream of their day in the Hampden sun.
That’s why he reckons the Scottish Cup Final must stay at the National Stadium – with or without fans.
The St Mirren defender tasted success at Hampden in the 2016 League Cup showpiece with Ross County.
And he disagrees with Ally McCoist’s plea to the SFA to move next month’s clash to Ibrox or Parkhead to get a small number of supporters through the gates.
The National Stadium is unavailable to punters on May 22 due to the Old Lady being taken over by UEFA to prepare for the Euros a few weeks later.
Asked if he’d want it to be moved, Fraser said: “No, I think it’s fine where it is. It’s the National Stadium and that’s where the Scottish Cup Final should be played.
“The Cup Final should be played at Hampden. It’s still a massive draw, as a player.
“There won’t be any fans there but when you come to look back on your career, playing in a final at Hampden is a big achievement, with it being the National
Stadium. If you asked players, the majority would stick on wanting to play the big games there.
“But I don’t want to be talking too much about it until we maybe get the chance to be there.”
That was a point Fraser was keen to stress ahead of this evening’s last-16 tie with Inverness in Paisley.
Caley Thistle are confident of pulling off a shock, with striker Miles Storey claiming they have nothing to fear against the Buddies.
Fraser insists Jim Goodwin’s side are driven by a desire to go one better than their League Cup semifinal loss to Livingston almost three months ago.
The 26-year-old, in talks over extending his contract beyond this summer, said: “Maybe in that game we just didn’t play as well as we could have – or should have.
“It possibly gives us a bit of an incentive to go as far as we can.
“It still hurts. We didn’t play well enough or create enough chances to win that semi-final.
“Even if we were the better team over the piece, scoring goals is the main part of the game and we didn’t do that.
“This is another chance to rectify that. Hopefully we do it. It would be brilliant to give a bit back to the fans, with them having not been here to see us play.
“If we can go a wee bit further in the Scottish Cup, that will give something back to them – and they’ll be cheering us on from home.”
Saints will be without Collin Quaner and Eamonn Brophy, although the latter has been pencilled in for a return against Hamilton two weeks tomorrow.
Ryan Flynn is also out for up to a month after pulling a hamstring while Jon Obika is touch and go to face the Championship outfit.
Fraser added: “We’re favourites but we like that pressure. They’re coming to our ground and we need to set the tone early.
“The pressure is always there as a player, whether it’s personal or as a team.
“We missed out on the top six but we’ve got the Scottish Cup to look forward to.
“The manager always puts pressure on us to produce. It won’t be any different on Friday.”