A tall order.. but Saints can do it
Frazer knows dreams do come true
Games against the Celtic frontline always proved to be a draining experience.
But St Johnstone stalwart Frazer Wright knows, more than most, that anything can happen in the Scottish Cup.
The much-loved former central defender helped send Perth into party mode back in 2014 by playing his part in lifting the famous trophy.
Saints are attempting to scribble down further history in the competition six years on but face a daunting quarterfinal test on Sunday afternoon.
Reigning league champions Celtic travel to McDiarmid Park looking to maintain their incredible unbeaten run of results in domestic cup matches.
And Wright has warned the home rearguard that they can’t afford any slip-ups.
“You are mentally drained after a game against Celtic,” said Wright, now a coach with BSC Glasgow. “They can hurt you at any time.
“They are probably more potent when you are attacking, because they will hit you on the counter. Normally it seems that when they score one, they will score another soon after.
“But when the Saints defence click they look good. They will just need to stay focused and concentrated, keep their shape and not get dragged out of positions.
“The front players that Celtic have, they will drag you out of position and punish the gap you leave.
“You need to be organised and get the guys in front of you to help defend and stop the ball going to the strikers.
“I don’t think you can really do what I used to because you get punished for it. You just need to go in with your game-plan.
“Hopefully you execute it right and then maybe Celtic will have an off day.
“I’m sure Tommy will have them well drilled.
“Anything can happen in the cup and you just need to have a bit of belief.
“They did well against Rangers last Sunday so I don’t see why they can’t have that belief and hopefully get a result.”
Positive results against Celtic have been few and far between in recent years. But Wright remembers watching on in amazement when Danny Swanson’s 30-yard screamer secured a 1-0 win back in March 2015.
“I was sitting in the stand when
Danny put one in the top bin,” Wright recalled. “On the Saturday before Ando [Steven Anderson] had kicked me in the face, broke my nose and given me concussion. So I couldn’t play. “Nobody expects you to get anything from the Old Firm. If you can get a win, it is special. And especially with the run Celtic are on in the cups.
“If Saints were to stop the run they are on, that would be brilliant.”
Victory would certainly tee-up a real shot at lifting the Scottish Cup for a second time. Wright will never forget the 2014 glory.
“It’s the highlight of my career,” he said. “Every time the Scottish Cup comes up you think back to it. It only gives you good memories.
“You are thankful that you managed to win it. That season we started well in Europe with the result against Rosenborg which gave us belief.
“But in the early rounds of the cup you aren’t thinking about the final. You just take it each game as it comes. “When you watch the final back, I don’t think there was a failure on the pitch. We were brilliant that day.”