After a monumental derby win, Lawrence Shankland finds himself amongst the nominees for the PFA Scotland Player Of The Year. At this crucial point in the season, the Hearts captain and talisman spoke to the media about the match, the possibility of making league championship history and the recognition from his rivals and peers.
A week ago on Sunday, league leaders Hearts stayed on top of the table and on course for the title with an Edinburgh derby win over rivals Hibs in a dramatic Easter Road clash. The win, in the first of five post-split fixtures, could be the catalyst for an overdue and unexpected championship crown.
The game saw the green side of Edinburgh go one goal up early on with a strike from Martin Boyle. However, 15 minutes into the first half, Hibernian goalkeeper Raphael Sallinger was shown a straight red for handling the ball outside of his box.
Hibs defender Felix Passlack picked up a second yellow moments into the second half, which saw him return to the dressing room and the Leith side down to nine men. Derby defeat came for Hibs when their own centre back, Warren O’Hara, scored an own goal. Midfielder Blair Spittal scored the second goal for Hearts just minutes before the final whistle, erupting the away stand, and claiming a derby delight.
When the dust had settled, Shankland took time to reflect on the result and its impact:
“We knew how big of a game it was going into it. We go there and concede in the first 10 minutes and you’re thinking ‘backs to the wall job again’. Obviously, the sending off helps, it was the right decision. They go down to 10 and in the first half, we were kind of getting to grips with how to play after that.
The manager makes the change at half time, they go down to 9 pretty early, and then you’re pretty comfortable if you get one you’ll manage to get another. Albeit, you need to be patient, and bide your time, but eventually we found that bit of quality, just to pick somebody from that space, and a great finish from Spits. (Blair Spittal.)
Eventually, we showed that quality, just to pick somebody out in the space and good finishing. Well, it’s a lot of people talking about the fact, there’ll be three teams chasing, going for it (League Title). You’ve maybe (got) the least experience in terms of being out there.”
Hearts had, and still have a three-point cushion, after title rivals Rangers unexpectedly lost to Motherwell at Ibrox on the same day. The Jambos then faced the ‘Gers at Tynecastle, emerging as 2-1 winners. Shankland spoke before the game on what it would mean for his side.
“It would make it very difficult if we were to beat them. It becomes a pretty big mountain to climb for them with just 3 games left. There’s no denying that, for us, it’s just about going to win our games, and I think we just see it as an opportunity to just keep us out at the top league as long as we keep winning.”
And what about the run-in? And that elusive title?
“All we have now is obviously a desire and a hunger, and there’s a freshness there that everything’s quite new to everybody. That kind of brings excitement, and we know if we keep doing the business and keep winning games, that’s the place we will end up.And that’s what we hope to do.”
“We’ve worked so hard to get ourselves in this position, it’s just important we keep continuing to do things that have brought us success.”
The Scotland international faced harsh criticism in Hearts’ disappointing season in 24/25. Ultimately, the Gorgie side crashed out of Europe and finished in 7th place. Shankland was criticised for his lack of goal output. Fast forward to today, and he’s now being recognised by his peers for his resurgence and ability to bounce back on the score charts and in his performances.
“That’s always nice to get nominated by the players in the league, and actually, who you play against. I can understand football differently from the emotional supporter, and I get what’s going on.
Last season, numbers-wise, maybe I wasn’t being as successful as I could be. That’s what I get judged on, and it wasn’t the best. For me, I can kind of see the bigger picture. Sometimes it wasn’t as bad as it was made out to be. It’s part of football when it happens.
As I say, I’m prepared to deal with these situations, and then eventually, when you go full circle again, you’re in the good spot, you’re ready to deal with that as well. This season has been the way it has, and hopefully we finish it strongly.”
Heart of Midlothian Fotball Club could only dream of making history to be the first team to lift the League title almost 50 years since a non Old-Firm team has. As Club captain Shankland could only dream of being the one at the forefront of success.
