‘Underdogs’ tag suits St Mirren, says skipper Mark O’Hara

St Mirren captain Mark O’Hara was happy to be written off in the top-six race before his side came close to pulling off an opening-day upset against Celtic.

Saints are the only team outside of Glasgow to have secured top-six finishes in the William Hill Premiership in each of the past three seasons.

But they are again outsiders to break into the top half of the table behind the big six of Celtic, Rangers, Hearts, Hibernian, Aberdeen and Dundee United.

Manager Stephen Robinson is again having to cope with losing key players such as Caolan Boyd-Munce, Greg Kiltie, Toyosi Olusanya, Richard Taylor and Zach Hemming.

But he showed he could organise his team in similar fashion with new signings Shamal George, Jayden Richardson and Richard King starting in Sunday’s 1-0 defeat by Celtic and Tunmise Sobowale and Malik Dijksteel coming off the bench.

Saints frustrated Celtic for 87 minutes before Luke McCowan netted a deflected winner and the visitors had chances themselves.

O’Hara forced an impressive stop from Kasper Schmeichel in the first half and substitute Oisin Smyth had a shot blocked from an excellent opportunity not long before Celtic’s winner.

O’Hara said: “Since I’ve been here, a lot of people wrote us off most seasons.

“I’ve seen a lot of predictions this week, top six and things like that from the media and outwith that, and I’ve noticed we’re not in that.

“That suits us to come as the underdogs again this year and we can just go quietly about our business.”

The midfielder added: “It’s been a really exciting summer. We’ve brought in a lot of players and there’s a freshness to it this year that maybe there hasn’t been in previous years.

“Although there is the core squad, which I think you do need as well, the continuity and the know-how from the boys that have been there, but there’s definitely a freshness this year, and I’m sure we’re going to be exciting to watch.

“It will take time for some of the new players to understand what the manager wants and how he works. There is a set way.

“I think when new boys come into the team, they will be surprised at the culture and how hard everyone works and how together everyone is.

“We’ve added boys that have got good character and they’re going to learn and understand that. They’re definitely pushing the boat forward.”