SHANKS A MILLION
Hearts fans hail Lawrence as he sinks rivals with glory strike to equal legend Robbo’s record
IT’S been written about for months but turns out Lawrence Shankland has just been biding his time.
The Hearts hitman’s timing in the tackle may not be perfect, as he found out with a late second yellow card.
But when the ball breaks around the box? It’s impeccable.
Shankland struck his 20th goal of the season to enter John “Hammer of Hibs” Robertson territory and put to bed another pulsating Edinburgh derby.
Doing so at Easter Road – where the run started with his first Jambos goal in his second game in August – proved the perfect setting.
To deliver the final, brutal blow to any chance arch rivals Hibs had of silverware this season?
Well, for the maroon half of Edinburgh, that just nailed Shankland’s hero status to the Tynecastle mast. Not even an injury-time red card could take the shine off another landmark afternoon for the hitman.
His 72nd-minute angled drive from the edge of the box means he’s the first Jambo since Robbo in 1992 to hit 20 in a season and, added to Josh Ginnelly’s early opener and Toby Sibbick’s late clincher, ensured the lights on Hibs’ season go out early again.
Even the sight of Ken Buchanan moments before kick-off couldn’t provide Hibs’ campaign with a much-needed jab. The former world champion boxer was paraded in front of his fellow Leith diehards but yet another bruising result leaves Lee Johnson reeling on the ropes.
Hibs, who handed new signing James Jeggo a debut, matched their rivals punch for punch.
But it still wasn’t enough to end their wait for a derby win now stretching to nine games.
Hearts’ ability to defend their box with the kind of resilience that made Buchanan a world champion was the difference – as well as the killer instincts of Shankland and Ginnelly.
Whether this was Ryan Porteous’ big farewell to Hibs remains to be seen as Udinese,
Toulouse, Blackburn and Watford battle for his signature in the final week of the window.
Porteous dreamed of a fairytale ending to 11 years with his boyhood club.
But there was no hint of magic for the Hibees and there were few fans left when the defender trudged off down the tunnel, having failed to be on the winning side in a capital derby.
Yet it all started brightly for Hibs. Porteous’ first header – after 43 seconds in the centre circle – was met with a roar that would’ve stopped shoppers on Princes Street in their tracks.
It set the early tone. Hibs came flying out the traps and Michael Smith almost sliced a clearance into his own net under pressure before Zander Clark spilled the corner, only to be awarded a foul by Don Robertson. Josh Campbell then rattled a post with a superb back flick from an Aiden McGeady cross.
But in the 10th minute, Hearts opened the scoring. A free-kick floated in by Robert Snodgrass was headed half clear by Kevin Nisbet but fell to Ginnelly.
He had drifted into space to smash through a ruck of bodies from 15 yards to make it backto-back goalscoring games.
For all their problems at the back, Hibs looked dangerous going forward and only a lastditch intervention from Kye Rowles denied Lewis Stevenson a tap-in before Clark produced a good save low to his right to push a McGeady drive wide.
McGeady was relishing the big stage and more magic from his feet in 33 minutes had Smith tied in knots but Campbell’s header from the cross was the wrong side of the post.
It wasn’t all one-way traffic and Alex Cochrane teed up Smith whose shot was held at the second attempt by Marshall.
Hearts’ ability to withstand pressure was the difference.
Panto villain Sibbick – who turned down Hibs before joining Hearts a year ago – was a rock beside Rowles and James Hiil.
Hibs continued to press after the break. Elie Youan’s pace took him past Cochrane and his low cross was blocked by Clark with Snodgrass hooking clear.
Cammy Devlin’s industry is never in doubt and the Aussie – enjoying a new-found derby tussle with compatriot Jeggo – teed up Shankland to run at the home defence, only his shot was
straight at Marshall. Hearts continued to defend resolutely and, with the fresh legs of Stephen Humphrys on up front, were beginning to cause Hibs more problems.
He cushioned the ball into the striker’s path on the edge of the box and Shankland struck a stunning first-time effort that flew past Marshall.
Shankland blotted his copybook with a needless high tackle as he attempted to block a Rocky Bushiri clearance and was given a second yellow for his troubles.
Cue the Alamo from Hibs as Youan struck a post with an angled drive. And that summed up their luck as Hearts’ 10 men added a third when Sibbick raced clear to clip past Marshall for his first Jambos goal right in front of a delirious away support.