O’Ware: Player of the Month award was unexpected

Thomas O’Ware admitted he was surprised to pick up the Ladbrokes Championship Player of the Month for October both as a defender and in the face of some stiff competition.

So far this term, the award has been claimed by Hibs strike star Jason Cummings, the division’s top scorer with eight league goals, and Dundee United goalkeeper Cammy Bell, after saving three penalties in one match against Dunfermline.

O’Ware claimed the prize this month after scoring twice in three matches as well as helping his team to two clean sheets, but says he still didn’t expect to be named as star man for the month.

He told gmfc.net: “It came as a surprise. It’s not often you have defenders getting it. It’s always usually the big players that you see getting it, Cummings and people like that.

“I think it has to do with goals. Strikers get it all the time based on goals. They could be quiet for 90 minutes and pop up with a goal, so I think a big part of me getting it was the two goals I scored during the month.

“But obviously it’s good to get it while at a smaller club that’s doing really well and getting that recognition for how you’ve performed so I’m delighted.

“You just need to look at the players who are in the league and the quality of those players, and it’s an achievement to be picked ahead of them for the month.

“It’s been a satisfying month, good in terms of results and performance-wise with some eye-catching displays, and it’s about keeping it up and continuing it.”

The Ton have followed their impressive October with a strong start to November, picking up wins against St Mirren and Dumbarton either side of a draw with Falkirk in which they came within seconds of victory.

And O’Ware added: “We’ve went and beaten Dumbarton, drew away to Falkirk, beat St Mirren, beat Ayr, beat Queens, so it’s a great run we’re on.

“As the gaffer always says we try to get as many points on the board as possible and take every game as it comes. Obviously we’re on a good run at home and will try to keep that going against Dundee United.”

Image: Jonathan Mitchell