Fraser Murray at the double
Wednesday, 14th Oct 2020“I said to the boys before the game, ‘stick it at the back post and I will score’. It worked so I will do that more often, I don’t normally score headers.”
Fraser Murray opened his goalscoring account at Dunfermline with a brace in the Betfred Cup tie against Kilmarnock. The 21 year old who is on a season long loan from Hibs was happy to talk about Tuesday night’s success at Rugby Park:-
“We have got off to a good start in the cup games, clean sheets and scoring goals so I am enjoying it so far.”
Fraser scored his first ten minutes into the second half and it came from what is becoming the Pars most dangerous move - a cross from the left. Having watched Euan Murray score from two headers on crosses against Falkirk on Friday night, Fraser had teased his teammates:-
“I said to the boys before the game, ‘stick it at the back post and I will score’. It worked so I will do that more often, I don’t normally score headers.”
Fraser who was picked up by Hibs at the age of eight, felt that his second goal 17 minutes later from a 35 yard free kick out was certainly the most satisfying of his two goals.
“To be fair I thought it was a bit far out because the keeper was just standing in the middle of the goals. I wasn’t sure but just went for it because I had been practicing them quite a lot and it paid off.”
Stenhousemuir suffered losing a goal to a spectacular Fraser Murray strike from distance in a pre season friendly and he pledged:-
“I will just have to try and keep shooting from outside the box.”
Fraser’s impact certainly pleased his gaffer Stevie Crawford who was genuinely delighted with the three players that he has brought in on loan. In addition to Fraser, defender Lewis Mayo and midfielder Kerr McInroy have come in from the Old Firm. Stevie claimed that the players that he has brought in on loan have paid attention to their progression for a number of years:-
“I don’t want to say Fraser has taken a backward step because that is unfair to the level that we are playing at and the size of club we are. What I will say is that Hibs are a team playing in the Premiership but Fraser has come in hungry to do well. He has got a belief in his ability and he has fought extremely hard to get the game time that he has had already.
“It was refreshing to hear him say that he knows that it is not assured that he is guaranteed to start games. He hasn’t started every game in the League Cup but when he has come on in every minute that he has played he has conducted himself in the right manner and that will give him the chance to have a successful loan spell here.
“The one thing that we can help him with is adding goals to his game. If that means him going back to Hibs in the summer and giving himself an opportunity there, then great. If not he will leave Dunfermline after his loan spell knowing that he has been successful here and played his part in helping us to be successful.”
Fraser has started the last two Pars games and was a sub midway through the second half in the opener at Dumbarton. Success is certainly being achieved so far with three wins out of three but Fraser praised the effort of the entire team:-
“Credit to the boys at the back as well, boys all over the park to be fair. We have kept three clean sheets and looked solid at the back. We have been defending well and scoring different kinds of goals - setpieces, crosses. It is enjoyable at the minute, it is going well and looking good for the start of the season. Hopefully we can carry it on.”
The defensive side is something that Fraser believes is contributing to the early season success:-
“The gaffer likes us to be always working hard, the wide players getting back, defensive players and forward players running. The back four have been brilliant defending setpieces and making sure that we are getting a clean sheet. What is more important to everyone, is winning the game and getting goals.”
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