Lethal striker backed to continue his hot streak

ROBBIE NEILSON last night backed Lawrence Shankland to keep on scoring after the striker became the first Hearts player to score 20 goals in a season since Tynecastle legend John Robertson 31 years ago.

Scotland internationalist netted the Gorgie club’s second in their hard- fought 3- 0 triumph over Hibs in the Scottish Cup fourth round at Easter Road yesterday before being sent off for a second bookable offence.

Neilson was unhappy at his captain being red carded by referee Don Robertson, but he has been delighted with the forward’s form up front during the campaign and fully expects it to continue.

He revealed that Robertson had contacted him after the final whistle looking for the former Ayr United and Dundee United player’s telephone number so he could congratulate him.

“The first guy to text me was Robbo looking for Shanks’s number,” he said. “Whether that’s to congratulate or warn him, I don’t know! We’ll need to wait and see!

“Seriously, though, it’s brilliant for him, brilliant. But it just shows how long it’s been. I think it’s 31 years since someone hit 20 and that shows how hard it is. He’s been outstanding.

“But I always knew bringing Lawrence here, having had him at Dundee United before and seen him at Ayr United, that he scores goals. It’s up to us to create them and we’ve managed to do that. I think he’ll go on to score more. Can he get to 30?”

Asked about Shankland’s sending off, Neilson said: “I’m disappointed with that. I didn’t think there was any contact. But we can’t appeal it so there’s not much we can do.”

Neilson, who watched from the stand due to a suspension, savoured his first Edinburgh derby victory at Easter Road 22 years after making his debut in the fixture as Hearts stretched their unbeaten run to nine games.

“It was fine,” he said about being in the stand. “I’ve done it a few times. I don’t mind. Lee and Gordon [ assistants McCulloch and Forrest] were running things down on the bench and the players know what they need to do.

“I’m delighted [ with the result], but ultimately for me it’s just about beating Hibs. It’s for the fans. We had 3,500 fans here today. We’ve managed to get it here. It’s been a while since we have won here so it’s nice to get it done.”