Heart of Midlothian continued their surge towards third place with another win in the Premiership, defeating St Johnstone 1-0 in Perth thanks to a goal from, who else, Lawrence Shankland.
It was far from a classice but the win keeps Hearts 12 points clear in third place and is the ninth win in the last 10 in all competitions.
Joel and James review the game at McDiarmid Park.
Hearts and St Johnstone were both depending on their shape to keep their opponents at bay, and space was at a premium when attacking, so both teams adopted similar defensive strategies: sit off, sit deep, and whatever you do, don’t commit. The first five or ten minutes of the match were encouraging from a maroon perspective, with the hosts barely touching the ball and Hearts setting the early tempo. However, the match quickly descended into a war of attrition.
It should come as no surprise that hardly much attacking football was played because there was nowhere to play. This was a long-drawn-out fight that appeared to be coming to a standstill as both sides tried to wear one other down. If a winner was to emerge, it would do so either through a stroke of luck, a single mistake, or a combination of the two. Shankland, as he so frequently does, was the one who brought a rare flash of brilliance to an otherwise dismal game with a brilliant solo goal.
This was another three points scored, another step towards third, and most significantly, another game in which Hearts overcame a opposing adversary. It is rapidly turning into a joyful routine. Fifteen league games played; twelve victories; nine away; five consecutive. The Juggernaut Gorgie.
The half-century
It was only a matter of time. It was inevitable. It is Lawrence Shankland.
Frankie Kent’s long ball transformed a slim chance into a 1-0 Hearts victory. Just like he had done to Owen Dodgson over the weekend, he eased away from Andy Considine with his body. Then he nudged it past Ryan McGowan and somehow managed to put the ball past Dimitar Mitov. Everything appeared so easy. No, it wasn’t. However, Shankland has that characteristic. He transforms leftovers into a feast rivalling The Lost Boys’ fantastical feast in Hook.
In his last 18 club outings, he has scored 17 goals. It was number 50 for Hearts, of course. He now joins the elite group of players who have scored fifty runs for the team and is among the top ten fastest of all time. He became the first player at the club to reach 50 since the legendary Willie Bauld in his first two seasons. That was over seventy-five years ago.
It is difficult to recall a person who is currently more significant and influential to the Hearts than Shankland. Without him, the Hearts are still a strong squad. He elevates them beyond, nevertheless. a point where, with him on the team, they always have a chance.
He currently has six league goals that have ended in victories. No other player has more than two as of this writing.
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