Mark O'Hara hopes St Mirren form can persuade best Buddies to sign new deals

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Mark O’Hara hopes confidence in the St Mirren camp can persuade Toyosi Olusanya to follow his Buddies and commit to a new contract.

The Buddies are looking to continue their Premiership unbeaten streak – currently standing at four games – when they face Dundee United at Tannadice on Saturday.

Since an impressive outing in defeat at Ibrox against Rangers, Stephen Robinson’s men have picked up 10 points from a possible 12 culminating in last weekend’s 2-1 win over Aberdeen. Meanwhile, ex-Saints gaffer Jim Goodwin has got United flying as they sit two places above St Mirren in fourth spot.

In the two games where the sides have met this season, they have been close contests with United winning 1-0 on each occasion.

Skipper O’Hara feels the team have overcome a slump by trusting each other and hopes to come out on top this afternoon in a game which he reckons will be determined by “fine lines”.

“Everyone’s feeling good,” he said. “We’re looking forward to the games coming. We’ve got a good run of games up until Christmas and it’s a chance for us to keep climbing the table.

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“Confidence is high and we’ve got almost a full squad now. We’re under no illusions that it’s going to be a tough game. Even when we were in the slump, it was an experienced squad here and we trusted each other.

“Their performances have probably picked up since we last played them. They’re playing well and we’ll have to be at our best to get anything from the game.

“It’s always hard coming up from the Championship. People probably underestimate you but they’ve recruited well. They’ve got a strong, experienced squad. I wasn’t involved in the first game but there’s not been a lot in the two games.

“I think the teams have been quite well matched with there only being one goal in both games. It’s going to be fine lines again and hopefully this one will go in our favour.”

Top scorer Olusanya has been having the season of his Saints career – and already matched his tally last term of seven goals. The Londoner has been offered a new contract by the club but it has still to be accepted.

O’Hara says it is no secret in the dressing room as to what Saints are building and the 28-year-old is keen for top talent to be retained.

“Everyone in our changing room talks and I think we’re quite open about it,” he added. “A lot of people have committed to long-term deals here recently and I think that’s why we’ve been successful the last few years.

“It’s important and I think we’ll do all we can as a squad to ensure guys like that [Olusanya] are staying. Obviously, as the captain, I think the team comes first and success for us would be if we can break records this year again.”

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