14-07-2025
Shankland pleased to be off the mark with a double
Lawrence Shankland hit the post in the build-up to James Wilson's opening goal after three minutes and then netted with two second-half penalties inside three minutes as Hearts beat Dunfermline Athletic 4-1 at Tynecastle in the Jambos first outing in the Premier Sports Cup, Group E.
The second is against Hamilton Academical on Tuesday (kick-off 19.45) at Cumbernauld, and the skipper argued you cannot be too critical of players at this stage of the season.
First and foremost, he told the media after Saturday's game, that it was good to get off to a winning start in the group.
He added: 'It was a good day for us in that heat. It was the first game and it was competitive, but it is still pre-season season and the boys are still trying to find that match sharpness so these games can be over analysed.
'I believe we will get there and we had a good response on the bounce back (after Dunfermline levelled at 1-1). They (The Pars) had a good travelling support, and credit to them, and it had the feel of a cup tie and that helped.'
Neil Lennon's men committed a few bodies forward during the second half and that is when Hearts were awarded two penalties (76 and 79 minutes) which swung the game in their favour but, sportingly, Shankland said: 'The scoreline was a wee bit harsh in how it reads, but it was good for us.'
He acknowledged that the Premier Sports Cup, also known as the Scottish League Cup, allows players to get games and goals 'under their belt' and he added: 'When the penalties came about I thankfully put them away.'
It was he said, instinct, which dictated where he was going to place the ball from the spot for the second award and he revealed: 'I took two steps towards the ball and thought: 'where am I going here'. I think when you are on a second penalty there is a bit of a mind game between you and the keeper.
'The guy knows me (Deniz Mehmet was a team-mate with Shankland at Dundee United) and he has obviously gambled. I even considered should I change and let somebody else take it (the second penalty), but the opportunity was too good to get a second (goal) and I was delighted to see it hit the back of the net.'
Shankland reflected that it could have been his first penalties for the club after missing against Belgian outfit Cercle Brugge in the UEFA Europa Conference League in late November last year – Brugge won 2-0 – and he said: 'My brain reminded me of that when I put the ball down (for the first spot kick) so I was probably concentrating on keeping the ball down so much and I did not quite catch it right. It was in the corner and when they hit the net you are always happy.'
Overall, Shankland said he was happy with his fitness and revealed that the newcomers, including Portugese-born forward Claudio Braga, were settling into the environment at Hearts.
He added: 'It has been a bright start and, hopefully, they keep getting stronger.'
For the record, Hamilton also got off to a winning start at the weekend, beating Stirling Albion 2-0 on the road at Forthbank Stadium with goals from Connor Smith and Kyle MacDonald after 52 and 59 minutes. Hearts are at Forthbank on Saturday (July 19, kick-off 17.15)
SMILES BETTER: Lawrence Shankland pictured by David Mollison
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