Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
O’Hara exploits are no surprise
MARK O’Hara’s matchwinning exploits against Rangers on Friday night were no surprise to those within Dens Park.
The former Killie defender prodded home the opener on 66 minutes before sweeping in a fine second after the Gers had equalised to seal a massive three points for Dundee.
O’Hara hasn’t been able to hold down a regular place i n his preferred midfield role but certainly made his mark at Dens.
And for assistant manager Graham Gartland that was no surprise.
He said: “Honestly, you should have seen him in training over the last couple of weeks, he’s been excellent, really good and banging in goals.
“He’s been brilliant and he’s a smashing lad. He’s such a nice guy and sometimes you think you want him a bit more aggressive but I thought he brought that on Friday.
“He’s aggressive without being stupid.
“He’s a goal threat and for such a big lad he moves well — he’s 6ft 2in and he can run, he glides and covers the ground.”
In his time at Dundee since signing in July 2016, O’Hara has found the net eight times in the league after Friday’s double.
And those two brought his tally against the Gers to an impressive four in his last three outings against them.
And the management at Dens i s backing him to keep the goals coming, starting on Saturday at Ross County
“He took his goals brilliantly,” Gartland added.
“The second one he took on the move and that was really good.
“He enjoyed it, it ends up being t he winner on a Friday night on the telly — if you’re not going to enjoy that, you might as well not play!”