The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Fraser hoping Tangerines’ momentum is not derailed by break:
Midfielder would rather not have break ahead of big match with Hibs
Dundee United’s Scott Fraser would prefer to keep playing rather than have a weekend off ahead of the big match against Hibs.
The Tangerines don’t have a game this Saturday because they have been given a bye for the third round of the William Hill Scottish Cup.
That means there will be a gap of 13 days between Saturday’s 0-0 draw away to Morton and the much-anticipated clash against Championship leaders Hibs at Tannadice a week on Friday.
Some players will use that time to recover from niggly injuries, while others will get a chance to spend time with their families.
Fraser admits, though, that he would rather have kept going.
That is not surprising when you consider the Tangerines are on a 10-match unbeaten run going into the meeting with their title rivals, who will also have time off this weekend.
The hope is that United don’t lose any of the momentum they have gathered over the last couple of months.
“It is probably unfortunate that we now have a wee break,” said Fraser.
“I think we would like to play as many matches as we can just now because we are playing well.
“I see Hibs won their game (they beat Queen of the South 4-0 at Easter Road) so they have gone back to being three points ahead of us.
“The match against them a week on Friday was always going to be important but it really is a massive one for us.”
The gap between United and Hibs would have stayed at a single point had United taken just one of the many chances they created at Cappielow.
While Morton had plenty of the ball and looked extremely dangerous at times, it was the visitors who created the better opportunities.
There was a golden one for Fraser on 63 minutes when he fired in a volley from close range, but Morton keeper Derek Gaston somehow kept the ball out of the net.
Fraser said: “I tried to hit the target with the volley but, unfortunately for me, the goalie has pulled off a good save.
“We also had other chances, too, but things just didn’t fall right for us.
“‘Frustrating’ is the ideal word to use to describe that match,” he said.
“We knew it was going to be a hard game but we were confident we could win it.
“We have been on a fantastic run and that continues, I suppose, because we didn’t lose and are still challenging at the top.
“That’s a positive thing, but we still felt we could have taken the three points. In the last half-hour we battered them.
“They were always a threat on the break but we had the better chances.”
United manager Ray McKinnon echoed the words of his midfielder.
He said: “We had the more clear-cut chances so are disappointed that we did not win.
“Once the game opened up we played better football, and I am pleased with the attitude we showed in terms of trying to win the game.”
Morton manager Jim Duffy has a decent team on his hands and real quality players in the likes of Mark Russell, Gary Oliver and Jai Quitongo.
You can see them having a big say in who wins promotion come the end of the season, with a play-off spot already looking likely for Duffy’s side.
The Cappielow boss said: “We shaded the first half but in the second, particularly the last 20 minutes, United were the better side and created a number of good chances.”
The Tangerines returned to the scene of their last defeat, in the Betfred Cup on September 20, and left with what could prove to be a very valuable point.
Importantly, this result against the division’s other in-form team keeps the momentum going for the Hibs game.
United were on the front foot early, with Charlie Telfer’s 20-yard strike going just over the bar.
But they struggled to impose themselves until midway through the first half when Fraser sent a 25-yard shot wide.
Having seen the hosts enjoy the better of the play up to then, the Tangerines began to create chances.
Blair Spittal sent a header wide, then cut the defence open only for Simon Murray to drive the ball low at the advancing Gaston when he should have tried a chip.
On 38 minutes, United’s Tony Andreu
Once the game opened up we played better football, and I am pleased with the attitude we showed.
had a shot saved by Gaston. Morton dangerman Quitongo then blasted the ball across the face of the visitors’ goal.
After the restart, the home team’s Jamie Lindsay found space in front of goal but fired straight at Tannadice goalie Cammy Bell.
On 61 minutes Fraser fired just over after a great run by Murray.
Two minutes later Fraser produced a great save out of Gaston with that volley.
Andreu shot wide on 69 minutes, then a sweeping move on 76 minutes almost opened Morton up. Fraser found Telfer, who in turn played in Andreu. The Frenchman stabbed goalwards on the stretch, but Gaston saved.
On 79 minutes Spittal somehow sent the ball flying over when in a great position, then Jamie Robson almost sneaked a shot in from a tight angle only for Gaston to rescue his team again.