MOTHERWELL utility man Mark O’Hara came off the bench to end the mayhem at Fir Park on Tuesday night but that wasn’t enough to keep them in the Scottish Cup.
He came on for the crocked (and half-cocked) Bevis Mugabi in the final minute of the first half, by which time the Steelmen were fortunate only to be 4-1 behind to third-bottom St Mirren.
O’Hara helped inspire the fightback which saw them take the game to extra time, only to come second-best in the penalty shoot-out.
However, even though they’ve now gone six games without a win, he’s seen enough to believes that former Celtic star Tony Watt can fire them into a Europa League place for next season.
Watt, who left CSKA Sofia in January, made his first start for ‘Well against Saints and, even though he isn’t yet fully match-fit, the 26-year-old showed enough to suggest to O’Hara that he’ll be a real asset for Stephen Robinson’s side.
“I’m still a bit numb [after Tuesday’s result] because of the way things panned out but I think, when we look at it again, we’ll take some positives from it,” he said.
“Tony Watt has come in and done well; the gaffer wasn’t expecting him to get 60 minutes the other night, never mind play 120.
“He’s big, strong and good on the ball so he gives us another great option at the top end of the pitch. With Chris Long currently out through injury, Tony has come in but, hopefully, when they’re both fit they’ll make a good partnership.”
O’Hara, though, admits to being taken aback by the Lanarkshire outfit’s schizophrenic performance against the Buddies.
“I was watching the first half and I have to admit, I didn’t know what was happening,” said the 24-year-old.
“It was such a strange game at that point and then, after the break, it was all one-way traffic and we were the team who looked like winning it.
“We pushed on trying for that fifth goal but we just couldn’t get it and to eventually lose on penalties is heartbreaking. It was just crazy stuff; it was surreal to watch and to play in.
“I’d been involved in a 5-1 win here playing for Dundee and then a 7-0 home defeat for Dundee against Aberdeen but that was definitely the most mental, high-scoring game I’ve ever played in.”
O’Hara argues that their cup exit could also prove a turning point for Motherwell’s hopes of a finish in the top three or four places.
“We can take positives from the second half into the weekend and, hopefully, that performance in the second 45 half will kick-start our season,” he said.
“Obviously, we need to stop losing as many goals [they’ve shipped 11 in their last four outings] and that’s down to the whole team, not just the boys at the back.
“To do that we all just have to keep working hard – do that and we’ll get back to playing the way we were before.”
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