‘Best in league’ Shankland powers Hearts to victory-ZoomTech News

Supervisor Steven Naismith hailed Lawrence Shankland because the “greatest ahead within the league” after the striker’s twenty second aim of the season defeated St Johnstone and stretched Hearts’ Scottish Premiership successful run to 6 video games.

Shankland additionally got here up along with his facet’s greatest play in defence by clearing Nicky Clark’s bullet header off the road.

These have been the important thing moments in an in any other case scrappy match and ensured Hearts’ good run of type continues as they keep 12 factors clear in third place.

“He is within the prime of his profession and he is labored onerous to get there,” Naismith advised BBC Scotland of Shankland. “He has a clearance off the road which exhibits his understanding.

“We’re a superb crew. He is had extra pictures per sport than any striker within the league and extra touches within the opposition field. All that comes from us being a superb crew and the provision we give him.

“He is the most effective ahead within the league and it is one other instance tonight of him displaying that.”

Naismith’s facet managed many of the sport and created extra possibilities – together with one rolled throughout aim for Shankland and an Alan Forrest shot simply large.

However Saints additionally had moments the place they could have snatched some extent. Clark’s header was the closest they got here, however Adama Sidibeh scooped over the bar from shut vary, and so they had a shout for a penalty when Alex Cochrane appeared to dam Sidibeh’s shot along with his arm.

Hearts additionally thought that they had a penalty when McGowan felled Kenneth Vargas when he was clear by means of, however the Costa Rican ahead was offside.

Ultimately the Tynecastle facet wanted nothing extra to wrap up their eighth victory in 9 league video games and sustain their march in the direction of European soccer.

St Johnstone, in the meantime, keep tenth, 5 factors away from Ross County within the relegation play-off spot and 11 in entrance of backside facet Livingston.

Participant of the match – Lawrence Shankland (Hearts)

Imperious Shankland retains Hearts motoring – evaluation

There may be not far more you’ll be able to say about Shankland for the time being. The numbers inform solely a part of the story. He now has 22 objectives for Hearts this season, and 50 total for the membership, in addition to one for Scotland.

However the high quality of most of them is one thing to behold. He’s not blessed with tempo, however appears capable of carry the ball effortlessly whereas holding off defenders. His shut management is superb and he can end with each ft.

Hearts produce other issues going for them, a extra stable defence this season and a newly-discovered grit, however Shankland is way and away the distinction in most video games. He has scored greater than half of their league objectives, for a begin. Six of these have been winners, too.

His performances are sending them to 3rd spot, barring a collapse of almighty proportions. That doesn’t appear probably and, actually, Hearts may surge in the direction of certainly one of their highest ever factors totals if they’ll preserve this kind.

St Johnstone shall be dissatisfied with the convenience at which Shankland was capable of get into their field from a easy lengthy ball, given his type and status for deadly ending.

What’s clear is that they miss midfielders Dan Phillips and Matt Smith, each of whom are on the remedy desk. Supervisor Craig Levein mentioned he wished extra high quality on the ball than in latest video games, and Phillips particularly gives that.

His composure, power, and talent to get Saints shifting ahead is unmatched by those that step in in his absence. Having mentioned that, the hosts nonetheless confirmed glimpses of excellent attacking play and had possibilities.

Benjamin Kimpioka and Sidibeh appeared vigorous, if uncooked. If they’ll add extra objectives to this crew then they need to be secure from relegation.

What they mentioned

St Johnstone supervisor Craig Levein: “It was a fairly good efficiency and passages of passing soccer. We greater than matched Hearts after we received into it after 15-20 minutes.

“I used to be happy with the efficiency, clearly not the end result as a result of shedding at residence isn’t a superb factor. I assumed we deserved one thing from the match, however we did not get it.”

Hearts supervisor Steven Naismith: “First half we probed and prodded and had some good possibilities, however not as many as we thought we must always have. These video games hinge on that first aim and we speeded the play up within the second half which was higher and that gave us the possibility.

“Lawrence has put it away with an excellent couple of touches and an incredible end.”

What’s subsequent?

Hearts face Championship facet Airdrieonians within the final 16 of the Scottish Cup on Sunday (17:00 GMT), which you’ll be able to watch dwell by way of the BBC Sport web site and app.

Saints are in league motion earlier that afternoon as they make the quick journey to Dens Park to play Dundee (14:00).