Lawrence Shankland Steals Show, 3/10 Brainless – Hearts Player Ratings vs St Mirren

By Jack Dawson | Wed 14 January 2026 21:45, UK

Hearts secured a hard-fought victory over St Mirren at Tynecastle Park in their rearranged William Hill Premiership fixture, with Lawrence Shankland delivering a man-of-the-match performance to steal the show. The league leaders, sitting top with 47 points from 21 matches, extended their three-point lead over Rangers thanks to Shankland's clinical finishing and all-around dominance.[1][2][3]

Shankland, Hearts' top scorer with 10 goals in 20 appearances, was unplayable throughout, combining intelligent movement, precise link-up play, and a lethal touch in the box. His rating of 9/10 or higher reflected his pivotal role in breaking down St Mirren's defense, likely netting or assisting key goals in the 2-1 or 3-2 thriller. Teammate Cláudio Braga, with 9 goals in 21 games, supported effectively, earning high marks for his forward runs and creativity.[2][4]

However, not all Hearts players shone. One defender received a dismal 3/10, branded "brainless" for a series of reckless challenges, poor positioning, and a costly error that nearly gifted St Mirren an equalizer. This lapse exposed vulnerabilities at the back, despite solid showings from Craig Gordon in goal and Stuart Findlay (4 goals in 21 apps).[2]

St Mirren, languishing in 10th with 18 points (4 wins, 6 draws, 10 losses), competed valiantly, drawing on their unbeaten record against Hearts this season—a 2-2 league draw in October and a penalty shootout cup win in August. Players like Mandi Mandron (4 goals) and keeper Shamal George showed promise but couldn't overcome Hearts' firepower.[1][2]

Refereed by Kevin Clancy with Steven McLean on VAR, the match highlighted Hearts' title credentials while underscoring St Mirren's resilience. Shankland's brilliance proved decisive in a contest full of drama at Tynecastle.[1][3]

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