THE NEARLY MAN
Shaw wants to be remembered for more than goals he DIDN’T score against Bhoys and Hearts
THESE past few weeks have seen Oli Shaw go from the boy who almost brought down the Invincibles to the nearly man of the Edinburgh derby.
On December 10, a late goal-line clearance by Mikael Lustig at Easter Road prevented the 19-year-old Hibs striker inflicting the first domestic defeat on Celtic of the Brendan Rodgers era.
Fast forward 17 days to Tynecastle on Wednesday night and neither referee Steven McLean nor his assistant Sean Carr spotted that Shaw’s strike off the bar had crossed the line during the 0-0 draw with Hearts.
After watching his up-andcoming prospect denied both a place in the history books and a live televised derby winner in December, Neil Lennon insisted that, if it wasn’t for bad luck, his teenage forward would have no luck at all.
But the Hibs boss has backed Shaw to bounce back and play his part in the second half of the campaign for Hibs.
‘Oli might be remembered for the goals he never scored — the one against Hearts and the one that was cleared off the line against Celtic. I think he must have ran over a black cat,’ said Lennon.
‘Oli knew it was a goal. He and Martin Boyle ran off celebrating and there was an element of disbelief when it wasn’t given. He’s disappointed, but he’s only 19. He will shrug it off.
‘I’m really pleased with the way he is playing for us. His movement for the “non-goal” was great.
‘And his hold-up play for the length of time he was on against Hearts was very good. He just got tired because he’d also had a full game on the Saturday against Ross County.
‘Oli is a work in progress. He’s been knocking on the door for a while and we’ve tried to drip feed him in slowly.
‘You are always a bit wary of throwing kids in and, physically, he needs to develop a bit more. But he’s producing. We’re really pleased and Oli can be very, very pleased with his contribution so far. ‘He will have a part to play in the second half of the season. How big, I don’t know. ‘Anthony Stokes and Simon Murray have scored a lot of goals for us this season and we would like them to score more. But there is good competition for places here and Oli is right in the mix.’ In the wake of the derby ‘goal’ that never was, Lennon said the decision ‘made a mockery’ of Scottish football. As Sportsmail reported yesterday, Scottish match officials would welcome goal-line technology but SPFL clubs have ruled out spending millions to equip top-flight clubs with the ‘unaffordable’ necessary kit.
Lennon, however, would still like the SPFL to allow referees access to video replays in high-profile live televised matches.
‘I knew at the time it was over the line but it’s done now. It’s confined to the history books,’ said Lennon yesterday.
‘I wasn’t calling for video technology after the game. What I was saying was that there were cameras there.
‘I know we can’t afford the video technology but there were monitors there by the fourth official, and it would have taken only 30 seconds to have a look.
‘There are some decisions where you are not sure. Even when you slow it down, it’s inconclusive and that’s fine. But that one was conclusive.
‘So if we have some sort of technology there, why don’t we use it? Maybe that’s a grey area for the SPFL. Maybe it’s too vague, I don’t know.
‘We are due a bit of luck, I think. But I’m not going to criticise anyone because I think we have good officials in the main. It always seems like I’m going on about them but I’m not because in the majority of games I haven’t said a word.
‘But I think I have every right to voice my disapproval of big calls going against us.’
Lennon was disappointed to see winger Niall McGinn return to Aberdeen this week after being wooed as a guest at Easter Road for the 2-2 draw with Celtic.
‘We were in talks but we heard nothing back. I think we were kept on the hook for a wee while.
‘So, we’re disappointed but I understand his choice.
‘We’ll be looking to try to bring in another attacker if we can, whether it be a wide man or someone through the middle.’
Today, Hibs host a rejuvenated Kilmarnock team who have gone from bottom of the table to top six under the astute stewardship of Steve Clarke.
‘That doesn’t surprise me,’ said Lennon, who finally completed the tying down of winger Boyle on a four-year deal yesterday.
‘Steve’s a great coach, a great manager and a great guy. I played against him, too, back in the day and he was a class player as well.
‘He had a great career at Chelsea and has had a very good coaching and managerial career at huge clubs. He’s very well thought of in the game.
‘We beat Killie the last time but it was a good game. Steve’s since brought in Youssouf Mulumbu, who is an amazing signing.
‘Steve has turned Kilmarnock’s fortunes around in a big way.’