Latest news with #LawrenceShankland
STV News
20 hours ago
- Sport
- STV News
Hearts finish League Cup group campaign with 100% record
Hearts finished off their League Cup group campaign with a fourth four-goal victory. Derek McInnes saw his side secure progress to the second round – almost certainly as one of the seeded teams – with a 4-0 triumph over Dumbarton. Lawrence Shankland headed the opener in the 17th minute from Stephen Kingsley's cross and Michael Steinwender headed home from a corner seconds before the half-time whistle. Scott Tomlinson almost stunned the home support in the opening seconds of the second half when he hit the bar from a tight angle after robbing Kingsley of possession near the corner flag. But Hearts were soon back in control and Alexandros Kyziridis scored his second goal in as many games as the winger jinked his way into the box before sending an angled drive just inside the far post. Claudio Braga then converted Cammy Devlin's cutback in the 72nd minute to move Hearts on to a goal difference of 11 and ensure they will be the only top-flight side to boast a perfect record in the group stage. Championship Airdrie continued their 100 per cent record with a 2-1 victory over Montrose to move above Alloa on goal difference in Group C. The group will be decided on Saturday when Alloa visit Lanarkshire in a winner-takes-all tie. The Diamonds opened the scoring in the 56th minute at Gayfield when Euan Henderson's cross found its way into the net. The visitors doubled their lead six minutes later when Lewis McGrattan knocked the ball home after Henderson was brought down as he looked set to convert the rebound from his own saved shot. Ewan Loudon pulled one back with nine minutes left, but Airdrie held on. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
BBC News
21 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Hearts avoid 'crisis & soul-searching' in League Cup
Derek McInnes was pleased Hearts managed to avoid a "crisis" and safely ensure their passage into the second round of the Premier Sports finished up their group campaign with a win against Dumbarton to preserve their 100% record and netted four goals for the fourth game Braga made it three goals in three games, while fellow summer signing Alexandros Kyziridis made it two from Shankland had headed the hosts in front, with Michael Steinwender nodding home in first-half stoppage time."It kind of had that friendly feel about it," McInnes told club media. "I think it's been such a hot night, I've made nine changes, so I'm a wee bit disappointed that we didn't do quite a lot of what we wanted to do."But I think the team picked was probably the wrong team, in the sense that we needed at least one winger to be playing in that first half, but we were trying to manage everybody's minutes, trying to give everybody a bit of encouragement. "That said, I thought we had some good moments. I thought we arrived, we put ourselves in a position where we could have done that a wee bit more. We had three strikers on the pitch, and each of them had chances to score throughout."So, I think all in all, 2-0, getting into half-time, the game was quite comfortable in a sense, but I thought we were far better when we got our wingers on. "We started to play with a wee bit more fluency and we could have added to the four goals. "But, four goals is good night's work, it's been a pattern in this group and the intention was to win the group and come through with that seed, and that's what we've done."We all know how important it is to win these games, because if you don't then there's a crisis there and you start soul-searching. "So, the players deserve a lot of credit that they've been professional enough and the approach has been spot-on."
BBC News
7 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
'I learn so much from him'
Lawrence Shankland staying at Hearts is "one of the best things" for fellow striker James Wilson says he could have wished for. Wilson, 18, admits he was "buzzing" when "one of the best players in Scotland" ended a season of speculation by signing a new three-year deal with the Tynecastle club earlier this month."I learn so much from him day to day," Wilson said."I ask him so many questions. Getting to play with him, he's one of the best players in Scotland. So getting to play with him is one of the best things that I could have."Yes, I was buzzing when he decided to stay."Shankland marked his return with a pair of late penalties in last Saturday's Premier Sports Cup group stage opener against Dunfermline, while Wilson opened the frontman Claudio Braga, who made his debut at Tynecastle, followed that with his first goal in Tuesday night's win at Hamilton after teeing up Wilson for his second goal in as many games."He's a good figure in the group, he's enthusiastic, he really enjoys being here," Wilson said of his Portuguese team-mate. "I'm looking forward to playing with him more and he got the assist from me on Tuesday, so I was really happy for that."It's a good confidence booster for us. As a striker, you can play well, but if you don't score a goal, you're a bit disappointed."Whereas on the flip side, I didn't think I played very well on Tuesday, but I came away with a goal and I'm quite happy. That's just the life of a striker. You have to deal with that."
Edinburgh Reporter
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
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 Like this: Like Related
Daily Record
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Lawrence Shankland admits horror Hearts moment reared it's head as No9 resumes Jambos penalty duty
The Tynecastle skipper opened his accouit for the new season with two perfect spot kicks to sink the Pars in Premier Sports Cup Lawrence Shankland admits his spot kick shocker in Brugge flashed through his mind as he shaped up to hit the crucial penalty in Saturday's victory over Dunfermline. That awful Euro night in the Jan Breydel Stadium saw the Hearts striker balloon his effort from 12 yards high into the travelling support who turned on their skipper on a brutal evening in Belgium last November. Time's a healer though. So are new contracts. And more than anything, so are goals. All three came together as Shankland held his nerve against the Pars to bury his first penalty since that night in Belgium - and with it any lingering doubts over his ability from the spot. His two perfectly dispatched penalties in the final 15 minutes helped secure a 4-1 win to get the Derek McInnes era off to a strong start. By the end Shankland's song was ringing round Tynecastle to the tune of 'Glad All Over'. That pretty much summed up the feeling of the punters, the player and the manager over the end of his seemingly endless contract saga. And the striker, who turned down more lucrative offers from the Middle East and down south to commit to another three years in the capital, said it all confirmed he'd made the right decision to stay put. He said: 'Aye, definitely. I made my decision a couple of weeks ago now, and I said at the time I stand by it. It's the right thing to do. So as long as I know that, that's the main thing. 'Obviously this competition gives you that opportunity to try and get games and goals under your belt, so I knew I could do that on Saturday. I had a chance right at the start but I hit the goalie and there wasn't too much happening apart from that. 'When the penalties came about I was keen to hit them and thankfully I put them away. 'I think the last penalty I hit was in Brugge - and my brain kindly reminded me of that when I put the ball down! 'So I was probably concentrating on keeping the ball down so much for the first one that I didn't quite catch it right. But it was right in the corner. 'It's never been something I would say no to, hitting a penalty. It's obviously disappointing when you miss them, but the one in Brugge wasn't the first I've missed. 'It was just the whole thing around that night and the season, how it was going at that time. That blew it out of proportion. 'But I've no doubt my record overall is a good record from the penalty spot, and I'm always confident to step up.' McInnes played a game of patience over Shankland and ultimately came up trumps as the 70-goal striker committed for another three years. The skipper is confident the Tynecastle hierarchy have played their cards right too in appointing his former gaffer at Aberdeen after a season that saw Steven Naismith and Neil Critchley sacked and the club finish in the bottom six. Already he feels a positive vibe in the dressing room and says a line has been drawn under last season's flop. 'I do,' Shankland said. 'Obviously there's been a lot of change from the end of the season last year. 'It was disappointing it didn't go how we wanted it to go, but it's important you draw a line under that and you move on and I feel we've done that. 'We're in a good place, we've got a good pre-season behind us, and hopefully we can go and finish this group stage strong and then go into the league in a good place.' Shankland's double was sandwiched in between James Wilson's opener and Stephen Kingsley's injury time volley which put the icing on a hard-fought victory. McInnes gave debuts to two of his summer signings, Claudio Braga and Oisin McEntee. And former Aalesunds winger Braga caught the eye with a strong performance wide on the left. The skipper said: 'He's been good, he's looked sharp in training. You have to give these boys time, they're getting used to playing in this environment. But it's been a bright start for him and hopefully he'll just keep getting stronger. 'I've been there myself and I've walked into a foreign changing room and it can be daunting at times initially when you first go in, but we've got a really good group here, a really welcoming group. 'So I'm sure the boys will settle in no bother. I'm sure they're looking forward to it.'
