Zander Clark proves Hearts worth: stats second only to Rangers’ Butland, ‘extra pressure’ and views on Shankland saga

The Jambos goalkeeper is holding on to first place and assisting his squad in their pursuit of third place.

When it comes to goalkeepers, handling is everything – and few can fault Zander Clark for handling the strain put on him by a fit-again Craig Gordon.

With all the focus on the Tynecastle veteran’s comeback after a year on the sidelines recovering from a horrific leg break, little attention appears to have been paid to the man currently in possession of the starting slot. Clark, like Gordon, wants to be on the plane to Euro 2024 with Scotland this summer, which means he will not give up his place in the Hearts team without a fight, and he delivered on Wednesday night in what is always one of the most important fixtures for most Hearts and Hibs fans. He was so important in keeping the Gorgie side in the game, with some saves and the long pass forward for the late winner, that goalscorer Lawrence Shankland joked he owed him a pint.

“I think there has been external pressure,” said Hearts boss Steven Naismith, as he assessed the former St Johnstone keeper’s impact since filling the vacuum left by Gordon last Christmas. “I’ve been truthful in everything I’ve said. He is a quality goalie who has had an outstanding season. The situation he is in is that the club has a legend, an incredible goaltender, who is back in shape. That is competition for positions, but it is difficult to deal with, especially as a goaltender with only one position. But Zander handled it well. He’s a fantastic goaltender. He took his chance a year ago, has made his Scotland debut, and has had a huge influence for us tonight.”
In the win over Hibs, Hearts goalkeeper Zander Clark dives to his right to save Martin Boyle’s penalty.

While many were counting down the days before Gordon’s return, certain he only needed to pass himself fit and walk straight back into goal, Clark has been adamant about returning to the backup role he played for the first four months of his Hearts career. And, while he has his detractors, he also has statistics to back him up. Only Rangers’ Jack Butland has kept more clean sheets this season, according to Naismith, who also noted the capital club’s improving record in that department. Clark and the players in front of him have kept the opposition out in more than half of the league games this season, giving him a better record than Celtic’s Joe Hart.

Three of those clean sheets have come in the previous three games, against the defending league champions away, St Mirren – the team who spent most of the first half of the season in or near the top three before being knocked out by Hearts – and then at their city rivals’ home. It all demonstrates how nicely Clark has managed Gordon’s presence on the bench.

“I probably would have liked to have been a bit more comfortable,” he said of the game against Hibs, in which he performed a superb dive to tip Martin Boyle’s well-struck penalty onto the post, and then followed that up with blocks, interventions, and smart positioning to help lay the groundwork for Shankland’s stoppage-time winner at the other end of the pitch. “As a goalkeeper, I always say that making key saves at key times and keeping clean sheets that contribute to a win is always satisfying.”

“Penalties can go anywhere, but we always review them.” You can’t really predict whether they’ll go this way or that; it all depends on how you feel at the time. But I was probably due one, and it re-energized our fans and gave everyone a boost. We’d got the opportunity to go one up but missed the spot, so conceding a penalty was an awful feeling. I knew if we lost a goal, [the mood] would be lower, but it’s those kinds of times where you know you can go and give the team a boost if you save it. It was fantastic. Listen, it wasn’t a classic, and we knew it would take a little of magic to turn the game around, but with Shanks up there, he’s more than capable of providing it – and what a finish it was. I think it was more of a relief to earn three points when it appeared like it would only be one, and it clearly provides a bit of distance from them at the moment.”
Clark revels in front of the traveling Hearts fans.
Clark revels in front of the traveling Hearts fans.

The stoppage-time winner kept Kilmarnock in third place, but it also put Hibs eight points behind their rivals. Clark finds cause to be positive about the second half of the season, particularly if they can keep Shankland before the January transfer deadline. “We have players all over the park in the attacking areas with that bit of magic,” Clark went on to say. “We saw it the other day when Alan Forrest and Barrie McKay returned from injury.” They can generate moments of magic, and it was a terrific feeling when Shanks took it on to his left foot under pressure and swung it into the top corner.

“Listen, I believe Shanks is completely focused on us right now.” He has a contract here and is putting on such performances and scoring goals. He’s a top-tier striker. He’s done so much for us this season. It took a lot of skill to get in, and he knows what the aim is. That’s two on the bounce with his left foot, so he’s probably lying about being right footed. Whatever happens, we’ll have fun with him. He’s at ease in the locker room, and all we can do is focus on the next game, which is exactly what we’ll do.”

MORE NEWS ON RANGERS HERE