The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
A haunting by Shankland as Terrors tried to exorcise AZ
HEARTS 4
DUNDEE UNITED 1
Lawrence Shankland took just 41 seconds to torment his former club as Dundee United followed up their chastening defeat by AZ Alkmaar with a 4-1 reverse against Hearts at Tynecastle.
Ex-Tannadice marksman Shankland bagged his second Hearts goal with less than a minute on the clock, turning home a Cammy Devlin delivery.
It was the worst possible start for the bruised Tangerines, fresh from a 7-0 hammering in Holland.
Despite a much superior response from Jack Ross’s side, they fell farther behind after the break as Barrie McKay and Jorge Grant struck.
Steven Fletcher replied with a penalty with 20 minutes remaining before Josh Ginnelly’s late finish.
Courier Sport was in the capital too take in the action.
Dylan Levitt absence Changes were expected following the midweek rout but the absence of Dylan Levitt was an unwanted one.
The Wales international missed out due to a knock picked up against AZ, with Charlie Mulgrew stepping into the base of midfield and Ross Graham included at the heart of defence.
It is a role that Mulgrew can do but it is not an optimal situation and, while Craig Sibbald has done very well in that role at times, especially against Kilmarnock, the lack of a natural destroying midfielder for testing away days such as this, is stark.
Should United delve into the transfer market one suspects that could be a priority.
Curse of the ex
The nagging suspicion that Shankland would come back to haunt his former club was impossible to ignore. The Curse of the Ex; Sod’s Law – whatever you want to call it.
We’ve all seen this movie before.
However, even the most pessimistic Arab could not have predicted that he would ripple the net after 41 seconds.
The movement and clinical finish was all-too familiar to the Tangerines faithful, who watched him plunder 40 goals during his time at Tannadice.
Those who questioned his ability to thrive in the top flight are being proved spectacularly wrong already.
Nevertheless, Jack Ross will rue the lax tracking and marking which allowed Cammy Devlin to dash into the box and find Shankland free to pounce from six yards.
Lessons were learned from Thursday’s collapse in Alkmaar. United responded well, remained compact and restricted the Jambos to speculative digs from Grant, Liam Boyce and McKay.
Meanwhile, the visitors came close through a Ryan Edwards dig from 35 yards and Tony Watt’s near-post flick.
Another false start
A maddening aspect of the last two fixtures for United fans is the way their side has started halves.
In their last three halves of football, United have conceded a goal within three minutes of kick-off – Dani de Wit to begin the second period in Alkmaar, Shankland within a minute at Tynecastle, McKay after three minutes of the restart in Gorgie.
That McKay’s strike was a fine one, stepping forward and firing a super shot into the bottom corner from 25 yards, will come as little solace to those of a Tangerine persuasion.
In order to kick-start their Premiership campaign, United must stop giving themselves mountains to climb.
The game was made safe – if it wasn’t already – on the hour-mark when Mark Birighitti could only parry a Michael Smith shot into the path of Grant, who calmly slotted home Hearts’ third.
Steven Fletcher opening his account is a timely boost
Fletcher has been tipped to notch 20 goals for United by none other than his former Hibernian and Scotland team-mate Scott Brown.
Ask any striker and they’ll tell you the importance of getting off the mark.
So slamming home his spot-kick against Hearts – even in defeat – will be a boost for Fletcher and for United.
The sight of Aziz Behich, a player with clear talent even as he adjusts to new surroundings, winning the penalty with a run dash in the box was another positive.
He was felled by exUnited winger Gary Mackay-Steven.