Heart of Midlothian

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Steven Naismith has been speaking to the media before Hearts' final-day meeting with Rangers this weekend.

Here are the key points from the Tynecastle head coach:

• The season has been “really good” for the squad and him individually.

• Targets set at the start of the campaign have been reached and Naismith says: "The way we have come third, things that haven’t changed in 20, 30 years at the club, whether it be the run of unbeaten games, the amount of wins, clean sheets, away wins, that tells you everything you need to know."

• Lawrence Shankland should definitely be going to the Euros with Scotland and making an impact there would "cap off a brilliant season for him".

• Naismith is unsure if both Zander Clark and Craig Gordon will make the Euros squad: "It’s a really tough one because abuse we have good goalies and it’s a big tournament. I’m just glad I’m not making the decision.”

• Beating Rangers at Tynecastle would be a fitting end to the season.

• The youth and "loads of potential" in the squad excites him for the future.

• Out-of-contract midfielder Beni Baningime is set to agree a new deal.

It seems barely a week has passed without Hearts and Scotland forward Lawrence Shankland being the player to watch but Saturday is his last chance to add to his season's tally of 30 club goals.

The PFA Scotland player of the year is comfortably ahead of Celtic's Matt O'Riley and Rangers' James Tavernier in the Premiership goal stakes.

Shankland has scored against Sunday's opponents Rangers twice this season, but both times in defeat.

Can he help Hearts avoid a sixth loss to the Ibrox side this season?

Read all the Premiership picks for the final weekend

• Hearts have lost 12 of their last 13 meetings with Rangers in all competitions (D1), scoring just five goals in this run.

• Rangers have already beaten Hearts five times in all competitions this season; on just three previous occasions have the Ibrox side beaten a single club six times in a campaign – Dundee in 1981-82, Dunfermline Athletic in 2002-03, and Kilmarnock in 2010-11.

• Hearts haven’t won on the final matchday of a Scottish top-flight season since 2003-04 v Motherwell (3-2); Hearts are winless in 17 final-day games in the top tier since (D5 L12 – including curtailed 2019-20 season).

• Rangers have won their last league match in each of their last four campaigns, including the curtailed 2019-20 season. However, they have won just one of the five previous times their final match of a league season was away to Hearts (D3 L1), a 3-1 victory in 2021-22.

• With 17 goals and 10 assists in 2023-24, James Tavernier is only the second player to reach 10+ goals and 10+ assists in a Scottish Premiership season for Rangers since their promotion in 2016, with the other instance also being Tavernier in 2018-19 (14 goals, 14 assists).

• Lawrence Shankland scored his 30th goal of the season in all competitions in the midweek Premiership draw at St Mirren; he is the first Hearts player to reach the 30-goal mark in a season since John Robertson in 1998.

Can Hearts end the season on a high with a first victory over Rangers this term?

Steven Naismith's side end their campaign at Tynecastle off the back of a 2-2 draw at St Mirren on Wednesday.

Time to see some fresh faces? Pick your starting line-up here.

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Another day, another award for Lawrence Shankland.

The Hearts striker has been named the Scottish Football Writers' Association player of the year.

Having hit 30 goals in all competitions and 23 in the Scottish Premiership, Shankland saw off Celtic's Matt O'Riley, Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland and Bojan Miovski of Aberdeen to claim the prize.

He becomes the second Hearts player to win the award in three years, with Craig Gordon taking home the trophy after a stellar season in 2022.

The 28-year-old adds the SWFA award to his club prizes for players' and fans' manager of the year, as well as PFA Scotland player of the year and SPFL Premiership player of the year.

Andy Halliday, Peter Haring and Michael McGovern will leave Hearts following Sunday's meeting with Rangers, with Halliday currently on loan at Motherwell. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription), external

Yan Dhanda aims "to keep Ross County in the league" before departing for Hearts this summer. (Scotsman - subscription), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip

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Lawrence Shankland says "there is a lot to consider" about his Hearts future as he heads into the last year of his contract.

The Scotland striker took his goal tally for the season to 30 with a stunning finish in Wednesday's 2-2 draw with St Mirren.

At the end of the season, the 28-year-old, who is in a "pretty comfortable position" for now, will turn his full focus to the Euros.

But the Hearts forward says there is "a big decision" looming.

"This a place where I’ve been quite admired by everybody at the club and it’s a nice feeling," Shankland told BBC Scotland.

"But as everybody knows I‘m going into the last year of my contract and the summer will probably be the time when conversations will be had between myself and the club.

"We’ve been really honest and open about the situation, everybody knows it. The club made an effort to keep me in January and offered me a contract, but I didn’t feel it was the right time to do it.

"This is a big decision for me and especially for my family. Getting to the age I am I really need to think about them and life after football. There’s a lot to consider, but right now I’m in a place where I’m really liked and that’s a great feeling."

Sportscene pundits Neil McCann and Charlie Mulgrew discuss Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland's stunning 30-goal season and what impact he may have for Scotland at Euro 2024. (Available to UK users only)

We asked for your views after Hearts secured a 2-2 draw at St Mirren with Lawrence Shankland's 30th goal of the season in stunning style.

Here's what some of you said:

Steve: Surely Tony Sibbick has played his last game for the club, a liability. Shankland shows just how important he is to the club, without him we are a mid-table side. There's no chance of him re-signing, just a matter of when he goes, imagine going into Europe without him. James Wilson looks a real prospect for the future. We desperately need a right-back.

Steven: Lawrence Shankland... don't need to say any more!

Ian: Happy enough with the point after being behind twice. We were sloppy in possession and defence was nowhere for the two goals conceded. On the plus side we scored two very good goals and the heads never went down when behind. Man of the match Shankland just for the goal alone.

Hearts' 30-goal forward Lawrence Shankland deserves more recognition, says head coach Steven Naismith. (Scotsman - subscription), external

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip

Watch the best of the action of St Mirren and Hearts share four goals in Paisley. (Available to UK users only)

Lawrence Shankland grabbed his 30th Hearts goal of the season in stunning style to rescue a draw against St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership.

The Hearts captain came on as a second-half substitute to shake up a heavily rotated side, and typically came up with a vital moment of brilliance.

After Alex Cochrane's corner was flicked on, Shankland hooked a shot back over his shoulder while facing away from goal, and the ball dropped over St Mirren goalkeeper Zach Hemming.

It was the highlight of a scrappy end-of-season game with nothing at stake, with Hearts having wrapped up third and St Mirren securing fifth and a Europa Conference League spot.

Stephen Robinson's side were the better team for most of the game, starting quickly and getting themselves in front when James Scott hooked in his first for the club.

When Hearts levelled through Kyosuke Tagawa it was against the run of play, and St Mirren were perhaps ruing some of their missed opportunities.

That was until Caolan Boyd-Munce whipped in a brilliant cross from the left for James Bolton, who nodded the home side back in front.

But it was fitting that Shankland, having had such a dream season, got to number 30 in such style, emphasising his importance to Hearts.

Were you at SMiSA Stadium or following the match from home? Either way, we want your views on the game – have your say here.

Hearts manager Steven Naismith: "It was a game you could tell both teams were playing with freedom. I was pleased with a lot of the passing and braver passes.

"Everybody wanted the ball. We go behind and the goals, we could do better with those. But it's a strength of St Mirren to put the ball in the box and commit, and we get caught with that.

"But our reaction was really good. We get one back quite quickly both times we went behind and that's been one of the most pleasing aspects of the season.

"It's a brilliant instinctive finish [from Lawrence Shankland]. It's that touch in the box that sets him apart. He's got that finesse and nice composed touch.

"It's an incredible record. His goal return over the last two years has been brilliant. He's picking up the awards, which has been fantastic.

"The magnitude of what he's achieve, people won't realise it until further down the line."

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Thomas Duncan, BBC Sport Scotland

The fact Lawrence Shankland started on the bench told you there was nothing in stake in this game. But try telling him that.

He was desperate to become the first Hearts player since John Robertson in 1987-88 to score 30 goals in a single season.

He's done it, and his highlights reel is special too. Whether it's right foot, left foot, headers, inside the box or outside, he has scored nearly every type of goal.

This one was a pearler, finding the bottom corner blind. It has been a spectacular season from Shankland, he has been the main reason Hearts have coasted to third place and Europa League football.

Hearts make five changes against St Mirren as Lawrence Shankland starts on the bench, while Stephen Kingsley is injured. Beni Baningime is out of the squad and Kenneth Vargas and Barrie McKay are on the bench.

They're replaced by Toby Sibbick, Frankie Kent, Aidan Denholm, Scott Fraser, and Kyosuke Tagawa.

Liam Boyce is among the substitutes for the first time since 2 December.

• Follow the action

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• St Mirren have only won two of their last 10 league games against Hearts (D2 L6), losing both of their last two in a row.

• Hearts have only lost one of their last six league away games at St Mirren (W3 D2), winning 2-1 most recently in April.

• Excluding the curtailed 2019-20 season, St. Mirren have only won their final home game in two of their last 13 top-flight league campaigns (D5 L6), and lost their last such game last term 0-3 to Rangers.

• Hearts have lost their final away game in five of their last six Scottish Premiership seasons (incl. curtailed 2019-20), although the exception was last season, when they drew 2-2 at Rangers.

• Ryan Strain has scored in all three of his home games in the Scottish Premiership for St. Mirren against Hearts (three goals), the most he has scored against a single side in the competition.

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St Mirren are missing Jonah Ayunga (knee) and Kwon Hyeok-kyu (hamstring) for the rest of the season.

Hearts will be without Jorge Grant through illness and Stephen Kingsley due to a nerve issue in his leg, while Calem Nieuwenhof, Liam Boyce (both hamstring), Craig Halkett and Peter Haring (both knee) all remain sidelined.

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Hearts head coach Steven Naismith wants his players to revel in their current situation and finish the season on a real high.

The Tynecastle side secured a third-place league finish earlier this month and cruised to a 3-0 win over Dundee last time out.

Despite there being little on the line for the Jambos when they face St Mirren on Wednesday, Naismith hopes his side can build on that performance against Dundee.

"We’re looking forward to it because of the result and the performance at the weekend,” Naismith said. “It was really enjoyable. It’s not very often you get three weeks of the season to go, where you’ve hit your targets already.

"The next part was to find the enjoyment and I think we did that at the weekend, and we’ve got another opportunity to do that again tomorrow night."

Hearts beat St Mirren 2-1 on their last visit to Paisley, but Naismith expects a tough test against Stephen Robinson's side, who themselves look set for European football.

"The last game (in Paisley) was spoiled a bit by the wind, but we managed to grind it out and do what it takes to get the win," Naismith said. "I think this time there will be a bit more football played, but in terms of the team that we’re coming up against, they’re well-drilled and well-organised.

"They’ve got a good system that they play, and I think you can see that they’ve been together for some time as a squad.

"They’re a good footballing team, which I think goes unnoticed a bit. They’ve always got players on the attack, happy to commit bodies forward.

"Stephen (Robinson) has done a brilliant job over the years to steadily build, get them into the top six and potentially Europe, which would be a massive achievement. We know it’s not going to be easy, but we think we can cause them problems."

Greg Playfair
Fan writer

You couldn’t have asked for more from last Saturday’s 3-0 home victory against Dundee. It was a perfect day out.

Firstly, we were treated to the return of Craig Gordon between the sticks. A clean sheet for the veteran stopper can only help his confidence before this summer's Euros.

I also thought Alex Cochrane and Barrie McKay combined well throughout the match, especially for the opening goal. Cochrane freed up McKay to turn ex-Jambo Jordan McGhee inside out before playing a delightful ball through to Kenneth Vargas.

I also said last week that it would be great if we could play younger players during the final few games, and Naismith sent on 17-year-old attacker James Wilson mid-way through the second half.

He appears to have bulked up from his debut earlier this season and applied himself well. Naismith even said that Wilson will get his chance in pre-season and likely be involved with the first team squad next campaign, which will hopefully be a boost for all young players in the Hearts academy.

Lawrence Shankland was in the goals again and now sits on 29 club goals this season. I think every Jambo wants him to get to 30 before the end of the season.

If we take something from Rangers and win against St Mirren in our final two games, that will mean we will finish closer to second place than fourth, which would really cement Hearts' ‘best of the rest’ tag.

Regardless of the outcome of the two results this week, I’m sure the team will be well received after the game on Saturday. It will be well deserved after their efforts this season, which has to be considered a success with two cup semi-final appearances and the strong league campaign.

Greg Playfair can be found on the Oor Wee Chat podcast, external.