Lawrence Shankland, the Hearts captain, admits the Tynecastle side simply have to improve as they prepare to play Rangers twice in a week.
Hearts were effortlessly dismantled by Celtic at the weekend and were booed off by their own supporters after a 4-1 mauling which came on the back of throwing away a two-goal lead at home to Hibernian in the Edinburgh derby before the international break.
They now have to go to Ibrox on Sunday before a trip to Hampden the following weekend to play Philippe Clement’s side in their Viaplay Cup semi-final fixture. Shankland knows the capital outfit have to raise their game significantly after a timid display against champions Celtic.
He said: “We’ll definitely have to improve. When you play the Old Firm, you know they have got that quality. If you are not on the top of your game, they can make things really difficult for you.
“We need to take what happened against Celtic as a warning really. We can use it in the right way ahead of going to Ibrox. We need to go in confident. We can’t think about the defeat to Celtic and think ‘that’s going to happen again’. We can’t do that. We move on. It’s a completely different game, a different team. It will be a tough ask but we’ll be looking to go there and get a result.’
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“The goals that Celtic scored, from our point of view, it didn’t feel like they had to work too hard too score them. That’s disappointing for us. We came into the game late on but the scoreline still suited Celtic heavily. It’s done now and we have to move on to a big week.
“At times it felt like it was too easy for Celtic. Don’t get me wrong. At times, some of their one-touch play was really good and they were on it, to be honest. And when they’ve got that quality, it can cause you problems. There’s no shame in that. But when we look at ourselves, we need to be defensively more solid.”
Shankland at least ended an eight-game goal drought with a consolation and claimed he wasn’t concerned at his lack of goals. He stressed: “It was good to get back on the scoresheet. It’s been a wee bit of a drought and I’m glad that it’s over now. So if there are any positives to take personally, that can be one.
“‘I’ve gone through it before. But up until the same date last year, I’d only scored five goals as well so I’m on track for what I did last year. So I can work with that going forward. Perspective is huge in football.
“Of course, my game’s not been brilliant at times this season. I’d say myself that I can improve. But, listen, it’s not through a lack of effort. I’m working hard and trying my best out there. Sometimes it doesn’t quite work out and you have a wee dip in form.
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“Hopefully that goal can turn things and get me going in the right direction again.”
