Survival is the main goal but Jakubiak has eyes on cup run

WHEN Watford took on Manchester City in last year’s FA Cup final, Alex Jakubiak was at home watching on television as his team-mates were thrashed 6-0.

It was a similar story as a childhood Arsenal fan. The closest he got to silverware in those days was when his mum would let him run around behind the scenes at Highbury and then the Emirates where she worked. Now the 23-year-old is hoping to finally savour a big occasion for himself. The forward’s second-half goal for St Mirren — his ninth loan club — on Saturday ensured his dream of a cup run will continue until at least next Tuesday when they travel to Fir Park for the replay with Motherwell. Staying up, rather than silverware, is the priority for Jim Goodwin’s men this season but making it to Hampden can only help build the feelgood factor. ‘Our main focus would be the league considering the position we’re in but a cup run would give us good confidence,’ said Jakubiak (below). ‘I have not had that many in my career. I got to the quarter-final of the Checkatrade Trophy when I was on loan at Bristol Rovers last season. ‘And when I was at Falkirk, we got to the quarters of the Scottish Cup and lost at Ibrox to Rangers but that was still a great occasion. ‘I didn’t make it to Wembley last year for the FA Cup final. My season with Bristol finished at the beginning of May, then I had a week back at Watford and then that was me. ‘I can’t remember what I was doing — I think I must have been busy. I was probably more comfortable watching it on TV. ‘I’m an Arsenal fan but I never saw them (in person) in an FA Cup final. ‘I used to go to Highbury when I was very young. My mum worked there and then at the Emirates and sometimes she used to sneak us up to the boxes and we’d get free food.’ Mark O’Hara is another only with regrets when it comes to cup football. The midfielder looked to have sent Motherwell into the quarter-finals with a first-half goal only for Jakubiak to cancel it out. Even then there was one last chance for O’Hara to be the hero but he couldn’t take it. ‘I should have scored a second,’ he admitted. ‘It was very close but I could have taken another touch and it was frustrating when I looked up and saw it go just past the post. ‘But I was delighted to get the first goal. I’ve played a handful of games, so hopefully I can add to that tally. ‘It’s an inventive team and I played in a more advanced role and it was good to get involved in attack.’ O’Hara has only ever been to Hampden as a fan but believes this Motherwell squad is good enough to progress to the latter stages should they get past Saints. ‘I’ve never been to Hampden as a player, only as a Scotland fan when I was younger, so it’s an ambition of mine to play there,’ he added. ‘We’ve got a real opportunity with this team and, hopefully, we can put things right in the replay. ‘Every club targets Hampden at the start of the season and, once you get to a final, it’s a lottery and you could potentially get silverware.’