The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
O’Hara wants role reversal
Hoping to emulate what Hoops did to Manchester City
There can be a role reversal at Dens Park today, with Dundee doing a Celtic and the Hoops in the Manchester City role.
That is the view of Dark Blues midfielder Mark O’Hara, who was as impressed as everyone else by Celtic’s thrilling 3-3 draw with City in the Champions League in midweek.
Brendan Rodgers’ boys gave at least as good as they got against the English Premier League leaders, giving Scottish football a boost in the process.
Celtic pressed their opponents high up the pitch, snapped at their heels and succeeded in troubling the Etihad side for long spells of the game.
Now what O’Hara wants is for Paul Hartley’s players to do to the Hoops what today’s visitors did to City.
The former Kilmarnock player, who returns today after suspension, said: “The manager has said to us that we can maybe have a role reversal of that game.”
He added: “We would hope to do what they did the other night, but maybe get an even better result.
“I watched the game and I thought it was very encouraging for Scottish foot- ball as a whole. Man City are top of the English Premier League but Celtic more than matched them at times. I think that is positive for everybody in Scotland.
“So this is definitely one for us to look forward to. It is on TV, there will be a full stadium and great atmosphere,” he said.
“As a player, of course you want to test yourself against players operating at a high level in the Champions League.
“Maybe we can show the gap between them and the other clubs isn’t as big as you think.”
Dundee’s task this afternoon is all the harder because of the poor start they have made to the campaign.
However, O’Hara stressed his belief that things will begin to turn for the better for the Dens men.
He said: “Our results haven’t been great in the last few weeks so this is a chance to prove how good a team we can be. We are a good side.
“It is early days, but hopefully we can get a positive result and then kick on from there.
“Results will start coming because we have been close in a few games but maybe drawn too many matches.
“It is about getting momentum, and if we could get something against Celtic that would be a big boost.”
O’Hara’s one-game ban, for his red card against Aberdeen a fortnight ago, was served in the 3-1 defeat to Inverness.
He returns to Hartley’s plans along with Kevin Gomis, who was suspended for two matches.
O’Hara couldn’t be happier to be back, especially as he is a miserable spectator.
He admitted: “I was a wee bit lost, to be honest, because I like playing on a Saturday. I want to be involved in every game and that was a big one for us up at Inverness.
“I felt I let the team down, not being involved in it. It was stupid to do what I did against Aberdeen but the manager has been great with me and hopefully I’ll be back in his plans.
“A few of the boys have also talked to me about it and I definitely won’t do it again. It wasn’t a bad tackle (on Graeme Shinnie) but there was a rush of blood to the head and I thought I was getting there. With a bit more experience I would have stood up. It was just a silly thing to do.”