Neil Critchley message to Hearts players as teammate defends ‘outstanding’ Lawrence Shankland

Add as preferred source on Google

There have been some encouraging signs for Hearts under Neil Critchley even though they don’t quite have lift-off yet.

They are playing with a noticeably different style and fans and pundits alike have observed how they now have a clear identity to their play in comparison to what went before.

There have been some decent results under Critchley but the weekend’s defeat to Rangers was the second in the league and third overall.

And the Jambos are still 11th in the table so there are still concerns there for the Tynecastle men.

• READ MORE: The ‘one worry’ about Hearts under Neil Critchley after Rangers showing

Neil Critchley message to Hearts players

The Englishman said there was plenty to be proud about from Hearts’ performance against Rangers but admitted there was still a disappointment there at coming away with nothing.

He doesn’t want his side to be a ‘nearly team’.

Midfielder Cammy Devlin, who came on as a sub, echoes those words.

And he has also detailed what it is the manager has been trying to get across the players during his short time in charge.

Asked how he felt post-match, he said: “The nearly feeling. I think on the pitch we are playing good football. I hope watching it is encouraging.

“The message he is giving us is to play and be brave because he thinks there’s quality in the squad to do that. I feel since he came in even the games we have drawn and lost, the performances have been positive.

“At St Johnstone, we didn’t play so well but we ground out that result. It’s about turning that habit of playing well but not winning.

“We’re playing well but we need to get a result. I do feel the performances are encouraging. It’s about being ruthless in both boxes.”

Cammy Devlin defence of Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland

Individually, the performances of captain Lawrence Shankland have gone under the spotlight.

Scoring 31 goals last season and more than 50 over the past two campaigns, the 29-year-old is a shadow of himself in goalscoring terms with just one so far this campaign.

Hearts fans are concerned with some questioning his fitness and attitude. While previous transfer speculation and his contract situation have been attributed as factors.

His manager has praised his all-round performances though and now Devlin has stuck up for him too.

The Aussie says his skipper was ‘outstanding’ at Ibrox and says his teammates need to step up and help him.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
8	KilmarnockKilmarnock	12	3	3	6	15	25	-10	12
9	Ross CountyRoss County	13	2	6	5	10	21	-11	12
10	ST JohnstoneST Johnstone	13	3	1	9	16	27	-11	10
11	Heart Of MidlothianHeart Of Midlothian	13	2	3	8	14	20	-6	9
12	HibernianHibernian	12	1	5	6	11	18	-7	8

“We know Shanks’ qualities and I thought at Ibrox he was outstanding,” said Devlin. “The work he does for us as a team goes unnoticed so much like his link-up play.

“It’s about other players stepping up and taking the pressure off him in terms of goalscoring. He’s not always going to be finding the back of the net. I’m sure when he does it will start flowing for him.

“He’s just one player. There’s 10 others that need to grab it and take the pressure off him because he does so much for us. But at the same time, I’m sure when he starts scoring things will change.”