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Marcus Fraser: 'St Mirren will bounce back stronger from challenging spell'

Marcus Fraser: 'St Mirren will bounce back stronger from challenging spell'
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The Paisley side have been badly hit by coronavirus issues, suspensions and injuries.

St Mirren defender Marcus Fraser believes they can emerge stronger from their early-season challenges.

The Paisley side have been hit by several coronavirus blows including losing all three goalkeepers at the same time followed by a separate outbreak which forced the club to close and have two games postponed.

Saints have also suffered from suspensions and injury and not won in the league since August 15.

But they have gone five games unbeaten, four of them in the Betfred Cup, and have seen their injury list ease in recent weeks.

And Fraser feels the togetherness has grown in the wake of their difficulties.

"For me personally I think it will help the club and the group of players because everyone is just going to come out fighting at the other end of it," the former Ross County player said ahead of Saturday's trip to Livingston.

"I see the players work hard every day, train well every day. I think together as a group we will come out the other end better for it and hopefully we start that on Saturday."

There is another challenge for manager Jim Goodwin after seeing Joe Shaughnessy pick up a three-match ban last weekend.

"These things can't be helped, you just get on with it," Fraser said. "We have to deal with it. If we get a win on Saturday, that's all forgotten about it. You have to move on as a team and whoever the manager picks to take Joe's place, I'm sure he will be ready."

And the defender believes the squad will be ready after recovering from their enforced shutdown.

"The last couple of weeks in training has been really good, there's been a tempo," the 26-year-old said. "It might have taken some people a little bit longer than they thought but a lot of people got game time in the cup games and that's good.

"We have had a lot of training sessions under our belt and we are raring to go."

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St Mirren boss Jim Goodwin pictured on August 9, 2020
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Today's games header
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
1Celtic220085275884
2RangersRangers110074245078
3Hearts20114637963
4Kilmarnock10104334952
5St Mirren21014246-446
6Dundee20024659-1341
Relegation Group
1Hibernian21014854-642
2Aberdeen22003749-1241
3Motherwell21015053-340
4Ross County21013459-2533
5St Johnstone20022550-2531
RLivingston21012563-3821
 
First Phase
1Celtic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
RLivingston3339212259-3718


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