SHANKLAND IN A GOALS RUSH
Derby double takes Hearts striker closer to milestone and emulating Robbo
WITH two strikes of his lethal right boot, Lawrence Shankland moved ever closer to becoming the first Hearts player to hit 20 goals in a season since the legendary John Robertson in 1991-92.
On the evidence of the 18-goal striker’s Edinburgh derby displays to date, the Tynecastle club may just have unearthed a player capable of regularly reprising Robbo’s famous role as The Hammer of the Hibs.
Shankland, of course, has a long way to go to catch up with Robertson’s impressive 27 goals in this fixture. But three goals from two encounters with Hibs since his arrival from Belgian club Beerschot in the summer represents a very decent start indeed by the 27-year-old.
After seeing his opener at Easter Road in August cancelled out by a late Martin Boyle strike, yesterday the new Hearts captain’s deadly double put his side on the road to a comfortable victory that was sealed by substitute Stephen Humphrys (below) in second-half stoppage time.
Afterwards, Shankland admitted he would love to follow in the footsteps of the club’s leading all-time league goalscorer.
‘Of course I’m aware of Robbo’s record,’ he said. ‘I know how big a player he was for the club and how well thought of he is around the place.
‘I was four goals away from the 20-goal mark before the game so I’ll just keep playing and hope they keep going in.
‘If I get there, I get there. It’s close now and I hope I do get there. I’ll have hit a really bad bit of form if I don’t.
‘It’s going on in the background and people are taking notice of the record but I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing. If I manage to do it, then it will be good for me. ‘Derbies are big games and that’s part of the reason you come to these clubs. So to play in them and get goals is great. ‘I’m feeling good. When the goals are going in it’s always a nice feeling.’ Hibs sprung a surprise with on-loan Manchester United midfielder Will Fish anchoring the midfield in place of the suspended Ryan Porteous.
The 19-year-old came off the bench in the 4-0 home win against Livingston on Christmas Eve for his first appearance since October.
But when Hearts took the lead with eight minutes on the clock, it was a nightmare for Fish. He hit Cammy Devlin with a clearance before the Australian robbed him of the ball and fed Josh Ginnelly.
David Marshall saved the winger’s shot but Shankland was there to tuck the ball home as Tynecastle erupted.
The closest Hibs came was a shot by Kevin Nisbet that slid past Zander Clark’s right-hand post after a run and cutback by Eli Youan.
Toby Sibbick thought he had a derby goal to his name when he turned the ball into the net from close range. VAR ruled he was offside but, after a lengthy delay, Hearts were awarded a penalty for the ball striking Rocky Bushiri’s arm prior to Sibbick finding the net.
After Bushiri was yellow-carded, Shankland dispatched the ball emphatically from 12 yards into the right-hand corner of Marshall’s net.
All Clark in the Hearts goal had to do in the first half was pluck a Bushiri header from a corner out of the air.
On the stroke of half-time, the speedy Youan raced clear on goal, but a fantastic recovery tackle by Sibbick won an ovation from three sides of Tynecastle.
Then Marshall had to make a fine diving save to prevent Ginnelly making it 3-0 in first half stoppage time.
Hibs boss Lee Johnson had made a bold pre-match prediction that Harry McKirdy would ‘probably get sent off or score the winner’. As it happened, the former Swindon Town striker barely kicked a ball before being replaced at half-time by Aiden McGeady.
Fish’s match was also over at the break as Kyle Magennis came on, allowing Hibs to change their formation to three at the back.
Hibs did get better but they found Clark in inspired form. The former St Johnstone keeper was forced into action after a Kye Rowles clearance rebounded off
Joe Newell. Then Cadden cut inside from the right flank and sent a left-footed curling shot just wide of the far post.
Proof that it was not to be Hibs’ day arrived when Clark made a late double save that injured Scotland keeper Craig Gordon would have been proud of to defy Magennis.
Humphrys put the seal on a miserable afternoon for Hibs when he raced clear and tucked a third behind Marshall.
At full-time, Tynecastle chanted Shankland’s name to the tune of Glad All Over by The Dave Clark Five. He now sits joint-top of the Premiership scoring charts alongside Celtic striker Kyogo Furuhashi, while Hearts are five points clear of Aberdeen in third place with a game fewer played.
A hero the night Scotland qualified for euro 2020 in Belgrade, Shankland will surely catch the eye again of national team boss Steve Clarke again if he keeps this form up.
‘It’s a great feeling to hear the fans singing my name. It shows you are doing well,’ Shankland said. ‘Not many fans will sing your name when you’re going through a bad time! The fans have really taken to me since I came here so hopefully I can keep scoring goals and keep them onside.
‘We are going well at the minute and it’s always easy to get support when it’s like that.
‘Hopefully, we can keep that up and we don’t need to worry about anything else. In terms of Scotland, I’ve always been the same. I can only do what I do for my club and that takes care of itself. When that comes round, we will see.’
HEARTS (3-4-3): Clark 7; Sibbick 7, Rowles 7, Cochrane 7; Smith 6 (Atkinson 55), Devlin 7, Snodgrass 7, Halliday 7 (Forrest 55); Ginnelly 7 (Grant 71), Shankland 8, McKay 7 (Humphrys 76). Subs not used: Stewart, Kiomourtzoglou, Stewart, Neilson, Euan Henderson, Pollock.
Booked: Smith, Atkinson.
HIBERNIAN (4-3-3): Marshall 6; Fish 4 (Magennis 46), Bushiri 5, Hanlon 5, Stevenson 5; Cadden 5, Campbell 5, Newell 5; Youan 6, Nisbet 6, McKirdy 4 (McGeady 46). Subs not used: Schofield, Cabraja, Kenneh, Tavares, Ewan Henderson, Melkersen, Megwa. Booked: Cadden, Bushiri, Campbell. Man of the match: Lawrence Shankland. Referee: Kevin Clancy. Attendance: 18,980.