As his season-long goal drought continues, the Jambos striker blasted over from the penalty spot.
Craig Gordon knew there was nothing he could do or say to cheer up his teammate after taking one glance at the devastated Lawrence Shankland on Thursday.
Not right now. Experience has taught the 41-year-old that waiting for the proper moment is the best course of action. From one Jambos captain to another, the goalie will reassure the struggling striker that the goals will resume flowing as certain as day after night. Following the loss to Cercle Brugge, Shankland sat in quiet in the away locker room at Jan Breydel Stadium. After the most recent body blow during a season of bruises, he had shut down.
When he scored a penalty in the 2-0 Conference League loss, the Premiership top scorer from the previous season, who had only bulged the net once in 20 games this season, reached a new low. The 29-year-old was the target of angry fans who were crammed behind the goal Shankland had just cleared.
After that missed penalty and again when the players went to cheer them at the conclusion, the away team’s chants were quite cruel. Supporters took advantage of Shankland’s admission last week that this season appears to be his last at Tynecastle to urge the captain to leave, using far more inflammatory language.
Gordon, however, insists that despite some members of the support not liking him, the hitman’s teammates still adore him. And with Aberdeen hanging over them, he maintains that no one is more hurt by Hearts’ current situation than Shankland.
“Lawrence never spoke to anybody,” the keeper replied as he came out of the changing room. To be honest, he’s quite upset. Our best player is him. What am I supposed to say to him? Yes. It can be a lonely place at times, whether you are a captain or not, and you are experiencing something similar. You simply don’t think that everything you try is working out.
“I can tell him anything he wants to hear. As it happens, he will begin to score goals. The league’s leading scorers are only on five goals, so he’s only four behind them. He can still aim to be the top scorer for the remainder of the season. A hat-trick in one game will put him right back in the game, so he’s not that far behind.
“Hopefully, he can examine it and work towards attempting to be that guy once more if there is only one thing to consider. No one is more in pain than he is. I’m quite sorry for him. He continues to give it his all. He’s attempting to replicate his previous and previous season’s actions.
He simply hasn’t experienced it on the pitch. However, it remains there. He must continue to believe that, and we do believe in him. The earlier he achieves his objective, the better.
“The penalty wasn’t even something I saw. All I wanted was for that to be the one to enter and provide him a glimmer of hope.
“I am aware that the other guys adore him and that we are available to help him during this difficult time. Whether it is Sunday or later, he will return to score goals. It will occur.
