What Lawrence Shankland has said about Hearts fans and ‘weird atmosphere’ for Petrocub clash

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Hearts were booed by their fans during, at half-time and after the draw with Petrocub on Thursday.

The Jambos are out of the Conference League after the draw at Tynecastle, missing out on goals scored after Serbian side Backa Topola’s miraculous comeback against Armenians Noah.

A point may have been enough at one stage but proved not to be but it was a game Hearts were heavy favourites for and expected to get the win to see them over the line to reach the play-off round.

It was an uninspired performance as they fell behind early, eventually broke the Moldovans down to take the lead but then chucked it away with another poor goal to lose.

Fans were furious and were not shy in making their feelings known with chants against the club’s regime and boos and groans towards the players.

Hearts manager Neil Critchley responded to the fan frustration and vitriol and explained his position on it.

It came after fans praised Critchley’s honesty after defeat to ten-man Kilmarnock, but their patience seems to be wearing thin.

• READ MORE: Beni Baningime rates chances of returning for Hearts against St Johnstone

Shankland gives take on Hearts fans

Critchley admitted it can be a challenge for the players to ignored the noise emanating from the stands and get on with keeping their levels high.

But he insists they simply have to get on with it ahead of facing St Johnstone tomorrow.

Captain Lawrence Shankland was also asked about it post-match and admitted the tension “didn’t help.”

He accepts the performance wasn’t there but says it felt like supporters were waiting from the off to have something to shout about, creating a “weird” atmosphere.

Shankland said: “From five minutes in – it doesn’t help. I was actually looking forward to the game, I thought they’d be right behind us from the off but it was a kind of weird atmosphere.

“Listen, the fans are really good and I’m happy to give them credit when they are good. I just felt like they were waiting on one mistake to turn on us and all in all it didn’t help the way the game went.

“I’m certainly not blaming the support for what happened on the pitch. I’m just saying it didn’t help.

“Usually, on European nights they are brilliant. They can cheer you over the line.

“But as I said there was a weird atmosphere and I know the league form isn’t helping with things. We are looking to improve that.

“It was a difficult night all round. We need to get up and get on with it now. We really need to start winning matches in the league.

“That’s all we have to concentrate on now. We need to win our games.”

Shankland understands fan feeling

He added:  “I’m not asking the fans to do anything. They can turn up and do whatever they want, they pay their money for tickets and expect us to win games. I totally understand that.

“Right now we are not doing that so I understand the criticism. But the comment was that it was very early on against Petrocub that it got hostile.

“It’s difficult times. When you are out there and it gets that hostile, it’s going to be hard for boys. But they are going to have to dig in and accept it.

“They know what they are getting into when they sign for the club. They know it can be like that and we need to stand up to it and be ready for St Johnstone.”