Posh boys can’t keep up with Scottish patter
Peterborough United have overcome the language barrier in their bid to win promotion to the English Championship.
All of the dressing room speaks English – just not at the same rate as the Scottish contingent!
Mark O’hara is part of a six-strong band of brothers from north of Hadrian’s Wall. And the former Dundee and Kilmarnock midfielder has revealed the problems that has caused at The Posh.
“The English lads in the dressing room say they can understand us on an individual basis when we are talking oneto-one to them,” said the 22-year-old.
“But when the Scottish lads talk to each other, it’s 100 mph and a few slang words.
“So the other boys don’t have a clue what we’re saying and they ask us to slow down! “We have been made to feel very welcome by the rest of the squad. We chat away and have all bonded very well.”
Of course, understanding his Scottish players is not an issue for the Glaswegian manager, Steve Evans, now in charge of his seventh English club after a playing career that saw stops at Clyde, Albion Rovers, Ayr United, Hamilton Accies and St Johnstone. It was cut short by injury when he was just 24.
O’hara said: “The manager has been brilliant.
“He knows his football and has told us he wants promotion. That’s the target and there is no hiding from that.
“He and his coaching staff are first class. There is a good trust there and that rubs off on the players.
“I feel my game has improved in the four months I’ve been here.
“I’ve started all but two games, and have settled in in the centre of midfield in a 4-4-2 formation.
“I can really express myself and I love being able to do that, get up and down the pitch. I have different responsibilities and that has added to my game.
“It’s a bit different from when I was at Dundee because we were trying to grind out results and nick a point here and there. “But, at Peterborough, we are expected to be on the front foot and take the game to our opponents to win the three points.
“We’ve started the season very well but the victories we get are hardfought. There are no easy games. “There are some very good technical players, and League One is also full of powerful lads, very imposing figures.
“You need to be right on your game to get the better of them.”
O’hara’s Scottish team-mates are Jason Cummings, Jason Naismith, Jamie Walker, Darren Lyon and Siriki Dembele, brother of Celtic starlet, Karamoko.
League One also has a strong Scottish presence in the dugout.
Apart from Evans, there’s Stuart Mccall at Scunthorpe United, Bradford City’s David Hopkin, Derek Adams at Plymouth Argyle and Jack Ross at Sunderland.
The Posh are sitting nicely in the table at the moment and are expected to be up there at the business end of the season. O’hara, is confident that will be the case. He continued: “This is a great club to be a part of and we want to achieve things.
“We’re not here for the sake of it. There is an ambition to win promotion and the Scottish lads all want to be at the heart of it.
“We all take pride in our work and there is a real determination to succeed.
“This is a really good League and it’s great to see so many Scots at the other clubs.
“Obviously not everyone can be successful and hit the targets demanded by chairmen and supporters, but I do want to see as many of us doing well as possible.
“But we have a long way to go as this is a league that can be unforgiving. We need to keep working away and stay focused.
“Ultimately, I want us to be there at the end of it all and automatic promotion would be perfect.
“If we need to do it via the play-offs, then that would be fine as I wouldn’t turn down the chance of playing at Wembley on such an occasion.
“But we’ll see what happens. I am not getting carried away. Let’s see where we are at the end of March, start of April.” By that time, O’hara hopes to see Dundee well clear of relegation trouble in the SPFL Premiership.
His former club have struggled all season and changed their manager last month, Jim Mcintyre coming in to replace Neil Mccann.
O’hara said: “There is plenty going on in Scottish football and I keep a close eye on it all.
“I wish Dundee weren’t in their current situation but I believe they will get out of it and climb the table towards the top eight.
“I’m still in contact with a number of the lads at Dens Park and they are a talented bunch.
“They want to win games. It would be different if they had given up but I know that’s not the case and they have a real desire to turn things around.
“It’s going to take hard work and a bit of luck, but they’ll get there.”