Lawrence Shankland has told the Tynecastle boo-boys they’re wrong to think Hearts aren’t aching over their rotten start – insisting results control their life.
The skipper ended his goal drought with a dramatic stoppage-time leveller against Ross County to ensure the managerless Jambos avoided a ninth successive defeat. But the boos still rang around Tynecastle at full-time with Hearts locked to the bottom of the Premiership on just two points from seven games.
Shankland has come in for stick after failing to net in his first eight appearances of the campaign after scoring 31 times as Hearts finished third last time. But he hopes his late goal and Thursday’s Euro Conference League opener against Dinamo Minsk can be a turning point on a season he admits has led to him overthinking every problem. He said: “It’s impossible not to. Everybody will be the same, especially with the run of results we’ve been on. I think people tend to think that football players don’t care about their job.
“It controls your life, you know what I mean? You are sitting there for a full week thinking about it after every game when you aren’t getting a result.
“You just want the next game to be there. That’s been where we are. Hopefully Saturday is just that wee bit of positivity that can change that and swing the luck.”
Hearts head to Ajerbaijan to take on Minsk behind closed doors after UEFA sanctioned Belarus for its part in Russia’s war with Ukraine. And Shankland reckons the change of scenery – and lack of fans – could be the spark to ignite their season.
He said: It could aye. It will be a throwback to 2020, unfortunately with no fans. But it will be even-steven for everybody.
“I don’t think anybody enjoys playing in front of an empty stadium but if we can go there and get a result then I’m sure we will leave the place happy.
“It’s good, it’s a nice break from the league and a different competition to have a go at. Sometimes it can be different games, they are enjoyable and hopefully we can get a few good positive results throughout the league stage.”