Rangers prepare statement Lawrence Shankland signing ahead of summer rebuild
Lawrence Shankland has emerged as a key Rangers target, as the club moves into advanced talks over a deal to sign the Scotsman. The Ibrox hierarchy aims to get the deal done before Shankland heads to North America with Scotland for the World Cup. Shankland, who scored 16 goals in the league last season, looks to be heading along the M8 to join Danny Rohl’s side as Rangers look to add proven Scottish Premiership firepower to their squad. Rangers denied the chance to sign Shankland one year ago on a free transfer. However, last week, Chairman, Andrew Cavenagh expressed his want for more Scottish players in the squad. He said: “We have a pro-Scottish bias in the club today. Meaning, if you have two players roughly equal and one is Scottish then we will take the Scottish player.” A sensational time at Hearts looks to be coming to an end for Shankland. Over his four-season spell, Shankland has scored 88 goals in 171 fixtures. As well as securing Champions League qualifying football and coming agonisingly close to picking up Hearts’ first league title since 1960.
Falkirk 2 v 5 Rangers – Chermiti’s hat-trick earns Rangers first win of split fixtures
Rangers secured their first win of the post-split fixtures, with Youssef Chermiti scoring a hat-trick. Rangers started rapidly and opened the scoring in the opening two minutes. Mikey Moore picked out Youssef Chermiti, whose low driven effort snuck under Nicky Hogarth’s arm. However, there was little to none celebration from the Portuguese international. It wasn’t long after until Rangers doubled the scoring. A tremendous volley from Chermiti flew into the top-corner of the net, giving Hogarth no chance. It was three goals in seven minutes and a bizarre start to the match. A moment of madness between Tuur Rommens and Jack Butland saw the Rangers goalkeeper make a mess of the pass-back and put the ball into his own net. An entertaining opening to the match. Rangers made it three 27 minutes in. A neat passage of play saw Chermiti release the ball to Djeidi Gassama. His half-turn gave him room to open his body and finish the ball into the bottom left corner. It was all Rangers after the third. And Thelo Aasgaard must have thought he made it four, thirty minutes in. A looped cross from Rommens saw Aasgaard make clean connection with the ball, but Hogarth made a tremendous save to keep his side in the game. It was throwback to the last time-out here at The Falkirk Stadium between these two sides, goals galore. A Mohamed Diomande handball inside his own penalty area saw Duncan Nicolson go to the monitor. The penalty was awarded and Calvin Miller slotted calmly from the penalty spot, giving his side a massive boost going into the interval. Ben Parkinson almost equalized for the hosts just before half-time. His drilled effort saw Butland push the ball away for a corner. Minutes after the interval, Chermiti earned his hat-trick. A dangerous cross from Rommens saw Chermiti unmarked at the back-post. His header bounced off the deck, before going into the back of the Falkirk net. Shortly after, Butland made up for his error in the first-half. Calvin Miller was found one on one with the Rangers stopper. But Butland made himself big and denied Miller from making it a double for himself. On the 68th minute, a well worked corner from Falkirk fell to Dylan Tait outside the Rangers 18-yard-box. He drilled one from distance, but his effort landed just shy of Butland’s goal. Falkirk were upping the pressure. However, in the 78th minute, Gassama burst forward and beat Miller for pace before finding Chermiti in the box. The Portuguese international used his body to shield the ball and earn a penalty, which Aasgaard stepped up and stuck away into the roof of the net. Following that, Mikey Moore was replaced for one final time. The Gers fans were singing his name, as well as “one more year, one more year Mikey Moore”. The Spurs loanee was getting a good send off. Rangers ended the season off with a win. However, its has been a poor end to the campaign with just one win out of five post-split fixtures. It wasn’t to be for Falkirk during the split fixtures, with just one win in five. But throughout the course of the season, they can hold their heads high, with a successful first attempt back in the top-flight. Falkirk: Hogarth (2), Henderson (3), Spencer (4), Broggio (4), Yeats (5), Neilson (3), Cartwright (4), Ross (4), Parkinson (4), Miller (6), Hart (3) Subs: MacIver (2), Allan (3), Tait (3), Oliver (3), Wilson (3) Rangers: Butland (3), Souttar (5), Barrron (6), Chermiti (9), Diomande (6), Aasgaard (7), Gassama (7), Djiga (3), Rommens (8), Fernandez (6), Moore (7) Subs: Aarons (5), Chukwuani (5), Lawson (4), McCallion (4), Scally (4)
Hearts v Falkirk – Match Preview
One of the biggest nights in Heart of Midlothian’s history awaits this evening, as a victory against Falkirk may crown them champions depending on the result at Fir Park. Hearts were victorious in the last meeting between these two sides. However, Falkirk have already had delight at Tynecastle in the Scottish Cup this season when they knocked the league leaders out on penalties in early January. Hearts have stayed at the top of the castle for majority of the season. And they could be given the grand prize this evening depending on the result between Motherwell and Celtic. Should Hearts get the job done against Falkirk, who have two wins in six, and Motherwell were to defeat Celtic, Hearts would win the league with one game remaining. However, if both teams gained three points, then it would go down to a final-day climax at Celtic Park. The Hoops would need three points for any hope in clinching the league trophy. The visitors would know that it would only take a point to be crowned champions. But if Falkirk were to hold Hearts level or defeat Derek McInnes’ side, and Celtic were to win at Fir Park. Then Hearts would have to go to the East End of Glasgow and win. Finally, if Hearts win this evening and Celtic draw, it would bring a big task for Martin O’ Neill’s side on the final day. Celtic would have to win by a large margin due to goal difference, which is plus three to Hearts as it stands. Hearts’ draw to Motherwell saw Celtic close the gap to just one point, as they defeated rivals Rangers 3-1. However, Tynecastle has been a cauldron this season. Hearts remain unbeaten in the league at their home ground and tonight could make it a season for the history books if results are to go their way. Speaking before tonight’s match, Lawrence Shankland said: “I think the level of belief and confidence we’ve got down there from the amount of games we’ve been winning, it’s hard to take that away when that feeling is there. “What we have done brilliantly is every time we’ve had a worse result than a win, we’ve always bounced back and won the next one. “It’s going to be important for us, obviously, in the next two as well, but I think showing that resilience through the season, you can get into the rhythm of winning games, and it’s hard to stop that.” Hearts will be without Marc Leonard and Craig Halkett after picking up injuries on Saturday’s visit to Motherwell. Hearts player to watch: Lawrence Shankland For the visitors, they have had a remarkable season, finishing in the top six in their return to the top-flight. Falkirk currently sit in sixth place, five points behind Hibs with two games remaining. Defeat to Hibs on Saturday, damaged their chances in pursuing European football. However, Hibs have Rangers and Motherwell to deal with before any hope in playing in the Conference League qualifiers depending on the Scottish Cup final result. Regardless, Falkirk have had a tremendous season so far and have the chance this evening to cause serious damage in Hearts’ push for the league title. Falkirk player to watch: Barney Stewart
“We needed to have a bit more fight” – Emmanuel Fernandez
Emmanuel Fernandez believes that Rangers lacked the “fight” required to win the Scottish Premiership, after disappointing three fixtures. Rangers are now officially out of the Scottish Premiership title run-in and will have to settle for third place, after three defeats to Motherwell, Hearts and Celtic. Leaving questions to be asked about Head Coach, Danny Rohl’s future. And Rangers POTY, Emmanuel Fernandez believes his side showed not enough battle in the crucial fixtures to push for league success. Fernandez, who has flourished under Rohl’s management, spoke after yesterday’s Old-Firm defeat. He said: “I couldn’t pinpoint an issue. I just feel like maybe we needed to have a bit more fight. “I can’t say we have been unlucky. I can take stick for it because there are certain moments I probably should have defended better. “But there is nothing I can really say about my team mates. I will probably just look at myself if anything.” And after this disastrous two weeks for Rohl’s side, it has left a good portion of the Rangers support in anger. Fernandez spoke about the fan’s frustration with the team at this moment in time and more on the lack of fight they have shown. He said: “Yes, 100-per-cent I would totally understand that. “We knew it was going to be a fight. There were moments in games where we had fight. But in football there are going to be moments where you are going to struggle and go under in the 90 minutes. “I feel that, as a young team if we are going to grow, if you are going to struggle you stick together and all defend together. Then, when you come out of it, you have opportunities to score. “That is something we have to improve on.” During these difficult moments, a lot of the scrutiny falls onto the Head Coach. However, Fernandez backs Rohl with “100 percent”. Fernandez said: “I don’t look into what fans say about the manager. “But I know about the manager 100 per cent. I know that he got us through moments in the season where everybody thought the season was over and there wouldn’t be a title race for us. “I feel like maybe we went into it with the wrong mindset. I back the manager 100 per-cent. It is the players who should maybe take it, because we didn’t do the job on the pitch and it is something that we should improve on.” An honest statement from the Rangers defender, who admitted openly the players fell short of expectations set.
“We’re in a really difficult situation now” – Danny Rohl
Two damaging results for Rangers now leaves them distant from the title, as Danny Rohl acknowledges the difficult position his side now face. Rangers faced back-to-back defeats in the first two fixtures of the top-six split, which has left them far a drift from the title. Hearts were 2-1 winners in yesterday’s crucial fixture. Dujon Sterling opened the scoring for Rangers. However, an amazing second half performance from Hearts saw Stephen Kingsley and Lawrence Shankland score the all-important goal to crush Rangers’ title hopes. After the match, Danny Rohl said: “I think there’s no question mark. We’re in a really difficult situation now. “I think we worked so hard to come so close in the last two games. It’s not enough when you play just one half on your best level. “We have to show courage, and this is what I expect and demand of my players in the next three games, to take three fantastic results.” The title race seems to be beyond Rangers now, leaving Rohl’s side with far too much to do in the final three fixtures after what was a disastrous last two matches. They have Celtic to come next, as Martin O’ Neill’s side look to put some pressure on Hearts. Then a final home fixture against Hibs, before a trip to Falkirk to conclude the season. Hearts play Motherwell away from home, before welcoming Falkirk to Tynecastle and ending the season of at Celtic Park in hope to seal the title.
“I’m sure they will have a say in how this plays out in the next few weeks” – Paul McGinn thinks Motherwell’s Tawanda Maswanhise and Elijah Just can influence this title run-in
It wasn’t to be for either Tawanda Maswanhise or Elijah Just last night at the PFA Player of the Year awards, but the Motherwell duo picked up their own respected awards at the club’s own award ceremony. Tawanda Maswanhise won the Young Player of the Year and received the Top Goalscorer award with his outstanding 22 goals for the season so far. However, the star of the show was Elijah Just. He picked up both Players’ Player of the Year and Player of the Year after a truly tremendous season. The Motherwell duo were both nominated among the four players for the PFA Player of the Year. But unfortunately for them it was Claudio Braga who took that award home. After Motherwell’s defeat to Falkirk on Saturday, Paul McGinn spoke about both Maswanhise and Just’s efforts throughout the season. He said: “Maswanhise with the great numbers he’s scored for us. Eli [Just] is so clever and works his socks off, it wasn’t his day today, but it’s not from a lack of trying. “Even if he isn’t playing well, you know he’s going to work hard. It wasn’t to be but I’m sure they will have a say in how this plays out in the next few weeks.” Motherwell have been very impressive over the course of the year. And with causing upset in Rangers’ hunt for the title already, they have Hearts and Celtic to come to Fir Park in the next two fixtures.
Falkirk v Motherwell – Cartwright makes the difference as Falkirk earn massive three points
The Bairns edge past The Steelmen to put them just two points behind Hibs, as Henry Cartwright scores just moments after he enters the pitch to finish Falkirk’s unbeaten run against Motherwell this season. Falkirk started rapidly. In the first seconds of the match, Calvin Miller tried to lob Calum Ward, but his effort was saved easily. Barney Stewart’s effort in the 12th minute flew over Ward’s goal. However, the Falkirk pressure was increasing, causing a really open first 15 minutes. Motherwell started to pressure the Falkirk backline. Elijah Just and Callum Slattery’s combination play found Motherwell in many promising positions, but it wasn’t enough to test Nicky Hogarth in the Falkirk net. Elijah Just had a fantastic opportunity to open the scoring in the 24th minute. The PFA Player of the Year nominee’s effort drifted slightly past Hogarth’s goal. Shortly after, Barney Stewart was found in a two versus one situation through on goal. The young Scotsman opted to go by himself and lashed it over Ward’s crossbar. Moments after, he was found in a similar position nearing on goal. But it was the same outcome, as his blasted effort didn’t test Motherwell’s Ward. However, a worrying sign for the Motherwell defence. In the 33rd minute Emmanuel Longelo found himself in a promising position just outside the box. Looking to add to his double last week, his effort was heading towards the corner of the net before Hogarth’s save pushed the ball away for a corner. Just before the half time whistle, Ben Broggio delivered an inviting cross towards Calvin Miller. He got onto the end of it, but Paul McGinn’s leg denied any goal bound danger, before Stewarts low driven effort was saved well by Ward. There was more to come before the half-time whistle. A horrendous mistake from Calum Ward almost caused Motherwell to go into the interval behind. Somehow, Stewart failed to open the scoring although he was yards away from goal. After a fairly even first half, with chances at both ends, Dan McFarlane blew the half-time whistle to end what was an entertaining 45 minutes although there were no goals. Barney Stewart had another brilliant chance just shortly after the interval. The Falkirk talisman was unmarked, but his header again didn’t test Ward. Another warning sign for Motherwell. In the 54th minute Longelo was lurking deep in Falkirk territory. The ball fell to him on the bounce but his lashed effort rippled into the side netting of the Falkirk net. End to end action at The Falkirk Stadium saw The Bairns finally open the scoring in the 63rd minute. On the pitch for a small moment of time, Henry Cartwright’s low driven effort fell into the bottom corner, sending the home support into frenzy. The home side’s goal gave them real confidence. Calvin Miller skipped past the Motherwell midfield and defence with ease, but at the last hurdle seen his effort go wide. In the 81st minute, Kyrell Wilson skipped past Longelo and aimed one into the roof of the net. It wasn’t to be like last weekend for the Swansea loanee, as his rocket landed marginally over the crossbar. The Steelmen threw everything at it for the final 10 minutes. They almost equalised in the final minute of the match, when Stephen Welsh’s header fell into the danger area, but it bobbled out for a Falkirk goal-kick. A massive three points for Falkirk, sees them two points behind Hibs before they face Celtic tomorrow afternoon. For Motherwell, a disappointing result this afternoon. But they have a fantastic opportunity to cause upset in this fascinating title race as they play Hearts and Celtic in their next two fixtures. Falkirk: Hogarth (8), McCann (7), Spencer (7), Broggio (7), Yeats (6), Neilson (7), Stewart (5), Allan (7), Tait (6), Miller (6) Subs: Cartwright (8), Wilson (5), Parkinson (4), Donaldson (3), Adams (3) Motherwell: Ward (6), O’Donnell (5), Sparrow (4), Slattery (5), Fadinger (5), McGinn (6), Maswanhise (4), Watt (5), Just (5), Longelo (7), Welsh (5) Subs: Said (4), Nicholson (3), Charles-Cook (3), Hendry (3)
Is Daizen Maeda coming to life at the right time?
The Japanese international has five goal involvements in his last two games, after what has been a disappointing season for his standards. A whopping 45 goal contributions in all competitions for Daizen Maeda last season, has been slightly covered with his campaign this time-out. His efforts were rewarded with the Player of the Year last season. Maeda hadn’t scored in the league since the 10th of January before his double against Falkirk on Saturday. Maeda has burst back into his own self in recent weeks, scoring to put Celtic into another Scottish Cup final and keeping their title hopes alive. However, there is speculation that he will depart the club in the summer, after his well anticipated move to Wolfsburg last year fell through. On Maeda’s contract situation, Martin O’ Neill said: “I think there were contract talks with him last August. I do know that there were talks and there was a contract in front of him, which he didn’t sign at the time. I don’t know the position now. “If he didn’t want to stay any longer, then that would be a choice for the club to try and sell him. “But he’s come back to a bit of form, which is great. I’ll look short-term at this minute and see how he can cope with the next five games.” Maeda looks to be back to himself, his high intensity pressing has caused serious problems for defences recently. Including a horror mistake from Ryan Mullen to give Celtic the opener in the Scottish Cup semi-final. The Celtic support will be hoping that Maeda brings delight at the top end of the pitch for the final four games in the league, in hope to retain the Scottish Premiership title.
“I don’t think it’s an impossible task” – Mikey Moore
Rangers loanee Mikey Moore still believes Rangers are firmly in this title race following their setback against Motherwell. After Rangers’ defeat to Motherwell on Sunday, they now sit four points behind league leaders Hearts and one point behind Celtic. Danny Rohl’s men take a trip to both Tynecastle and Celtic Park in the coming weeks, in what is now two must win games if there is any hope for Rangers to win the title. Moore, who has recently won Rangers young POTY and was nominated to the PFA Scottish young POTY, is adamant that Rangers have “more than enough to win every game left.” He said: “It’s not an impossible task. If we show the best versions of ourselves, we have more than enough to win every game left.” Moore has been an influential factor in this Rangers side since Danny Rohl’s arrival in October. The on-loan Englishman has eight goal contributions to his name in the league and is one of Rangers’ most prominent driving forces in the team. He also spoke about his future beyond the season. Moore said: “For me, I want to be playing. I want to play as much football as possible. I want to keep playing games. I want to know that every week I’ve got a chance of playing. “I’m not going to rush into playing somewhere higher than I can play, where I’m going to maybe sit on the bench and not get as many minutes. I want to keep building on what I’ve built this year.”
Hearts and Motherwell dominate all PFA Scotland Player Of The Year spots
Hearts and Motherwell’s impressive form this season earns them all the glory in this years PFA Scotland Player Of The Year awards. The Steelmen and Jambos also controlled the TOTY with a combined nine players from both clubs included. It’s Hearts’ duo Lawrence Shankland and Claudio Braga who earn their well-deserved places among the nominees. For Motherwell, Tawanda Maswanhise and Elijah Just represent The Steelmen. Shankland and Braga have a combined 27 league goals between them, taking into consideration Shankland spent a period of time on the sidelines with an injury. However, both these players are going to be a massive factor in Hearts’ push for league glory, as they sit three points ahead of Celtic with only four games remaining. Motherwell’s talisman Maswanhise leads the goalscoring charts this season, with 17 goals to his name in the league and 22 in all competitions. Elijah Just has also been remarkable in what has been a fantastic season for himself and Motherwell. Just has seven goals and seven assists to his name for the league campaign. But not only does he contribute to Motherwell’s goals, his movement and passing play has been exceptional. All four players have had massive moments in this season so far, but with the league table still so tight, there is time for someone to prove decisive.
