The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Focused Fraser
Fraser says County will stay focused despite expected Celtic reaction
Defender Marcus Fraser will waste no time contemplating the implications of Celtic’s heavy Champions League defeat as he prepares for Ross County’s Parkhead visit.
Ross County defender Marcus Fraser will waste little time contemplating the implications of Celtic’s traumatic night against Paris St Germain as he prepares for the Staggies’ Parkhead visit.
When Fraser returns to the east end of Glasgow on Saturday to face his former employers his sole focus will be on the gameplan.
It would be tempting to suggest that Celtic, bruised and humbled from the PSG thrashing, might be more vulnerable than usual to an upset on home turf.
Statistics, by and large, do not bear this out – in the aftermath of the last 20 European ties Celtic have returned home to record 18 domestic victories and two draws.
Against that, when Brendan Rodgers’ team suffered last season’s 7-0 battering from Barcelona, they almost tripped up in Inverness the following Saturday with a 2-2 draw.
If that rare Hoops’ blemish offers encouragement to County, it does not enter Fraser’s thinking.
The 23-year-old said: “I like to watch any game on the TV but I was watching closely on Tuesday. PSG obviously showed they are a great team but Celtic are good as well.
“They have taken a beating from one of the most expensive teams in history and now they face Ross County, but I don’t look at that too much.
“Maybe Celtic will change their personnel on Saturday if they have a few injuries or a few boys who are tired from the PSG tie but they have got plenty of bodies there to change whoever they want.
“The important thing is, when we see the team they play on Saturday, we will be ready for it.”
County earned a meagre point for their efforts last weekend against Partick Thistle but the performance was striking for the high volume of home chances created without reward.
Crucially, the Staggies heads never went down as they kept pushing right through to Schalk’s late penalty equaliser.
Fraser feels that unwavering belief and conviction augurs well for the season ahead and is also convinced County’s luck in front of goal will turn.
The defender said: ““We know our forwards have goals in them. We’re creating chances and playing well.”
The chance to break Celtic’s 54-match domestic unbeaten run is a huge carrot. Fraser added: “Someone has to beat them at some stage.”
“Maybe they’ll change When we see their team we will be ready”