Marcus Fraser is urging his Ross County team-mates to draw big positives from Wednesday’s defeat by Celtic and make it a watershed moment in the season.
The former Parkhead youth defender exited the Dingwall match with eight minutes to go and the scoreline still locked at 1-0 for Celtic after Patrick Roberts’ early opener.
But County’s gamble in switching to a back three in search of a leveller back-fired with Stuart Armstrong, Trevor Sinclair and Moussa Dembele all netting to give the Celtic win a flattering sheen.
Fraser, while not denying the depth of disappointment felt in the dressing-room after a hefty home defeat, believes much of the game served as a reminder of County’s defensive and attacking strengths.
Certainly, for long enough, a revamped Celtic found it hard to break through the Highlanders’ defences after Roberts’ inspired opener.
More than that, after a recent dearth of goals, they showed good invention and belief in the final third, with several close calls and strong saves from Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon.
County also claimed both Gordon and Leigh Griffiths could have been red-carded with the game still delicately-balanced at 0-1.
Fraser said: “It was disappointing to lose 4-0. That’s a sore one no matter who or where you play.
“We have watched the game back, though, and picked out the things that we can improve on, as well as where we did well.
“It was harsh on us but that’s football. We now have a big game on Saturday and we have to take the positives and go and attack at Motherwell.”
Fraser highlighted County’s attacking play as a big improvement on recent faltering displays.
He said: “We were putting pressure on Celtic and playing with more belief and conviction. That’s what the manager asked us to do. We were 1-0 down and needed to take the game to them but, unfortunately, the wee change with my substitution didn’t work out.
“Celtic went up the park and scored late goals but that shouldn’t mask what we did well and how we can move forward from here. “The positives were that we hit the post and had a number of chances where, with a little luck, we would have scored. We move on from that and go to Motherwell feeling like we are capable of getting a result.”
After eight games without a win, County have slipped to third bottom in the table, a point above Motherwell, who have a game in hand.
Fraser added: “We need to go there with positive heads on and get the result. All the players know that and the manager will have us ready for that.”