Goal hero Shankland hoping Hearts can go from strength to strength after Ibrox victory

LAWRENCE SHANKLAND reckons Hearts' two-goal win at Ibrox will increase confidence within the squad that they really can push on and make this a season to remember.

The Tynecastle outfit moved to the top of the table again on Saturday night after putting Rangers to the sword and the captain is sure that racking up such a big result will work wonders for a number of the less experienced players in the dressing-room as they bid to maintain momentum.

'It has been a really good start. There is no denying that,' said Shankland, whose two goals made the difference on the day.

'We need to keep building and winning games, but coming to places like Ibrox and winning builds confidence within the group.

'The boys will get a good feeling for it. It will the first time for some of them to play in that kind of stadium in front of so many people and they will take a lot from it.

'Performances have been getting better.

'We had full belief in ourselves going to Ibrox and felt positive. I had a good feeling ahead of the game.

'I have not had that many times coming to Ibrox, but I was really confident with the feeling we had amongst the boys. The confidence has been building over the past few weeks and it felt like everyone was really looking forward to it.'

Shankland also admits the Hearts players fed off the anger inside Ibrox over midfielder Nico Raskin being frozen out of the squad and the venom directed throughout at home boss Russell Martin.

'Well, we play at Tynecastle every week, so we know what it feels like,' smiled Shankland. 'When you are at home and you feel that pressure and the crowd are getting frustrated, it does go onto the pitch. It's natural. You're human beings out there and it can get to the players.

'When you come here, you can use that. You'd be daft not to - and going a goal ahead helps.'

Martin felt Hearts' opener should not have stood thanks to a handball by Shankland earlier in the move. The Tynecastle striker said: 'I'm not going to lie - it hit my arm in the build-up.

'I knew that. We were running forward and I was thinking: "We better not score here" - because I wasn't sure of the rule.

'When the ref indicated a goal, I was delighted. Rangers were appealing. I just celebrated and kept quiet. Hearing from other people, though, I think the Rangers defender touched it and maybe started a new phase of play or something.

'It is quite a blurry rule and I am just delighted it got given. That wee bit of luck has not been on my side for a while.'

Shankland admits he also saw real progress made in his partnership with Claudio Braga up front.

'It clicked a wee bit and it was good to see. Braga was really good, really intelligent,' he said.

'It is a hard task up there when you have to do so much defensive work and it is a part of the game he's learning, but he did really well and took everything on board we spoke about.

'The connection came together a bit.'