Scottish Women's Football

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Paul Brownlie is to step down from the position of head of girls and women's at Motherwell in December.

The 48-year-old former Clyde and Arbroath striker has been at Fir Park since 2021 and steered the team to their first top-six finish in the SWPL last season.

"This has been a really difficult decision," said Brownlie, who helped establish a girls' academy.

"It's hard to close this chapter of my life as I've loved my time here and met some great people along the way, and we have had some proud moments. When I reflect on what we've achieved here in the last four years, I feel a sense of pride.

"We have managed to put in place a strong structure that will continue to flourish."

Motherwell are seventh in the SWPL after 10 matches, with Brownlie leaving to take on an undisclosed new opportunity.

His last match in charge will be at home to Rangers on 23 November.

"He has dedicated so much time to improving the structure and success of our women's team and girls' academy," said chief executive Brian Caldwell. "I am extremely grateful for his efforts, which have seen the team enjoy so many moments of success over the past four years.

"Everyone at Motherwell wishes Paul the very best in this next chapter of his career and we thank him sincerely for all his hard work."

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Rachael Johnstone (Hearts): Made vital stops when Rangers piled on the pressure in the second half. Played a big part in Hearts taking all three points.

Emma Brownlie (Glasgow City): Set up two of table-topping City's goals in the rout of Aberdeen and helped keep a clean sheet.

Georgia Carter (Montrose): Solid at the back as Montrose earned a great point against Motherwell to stay in the top six.

Lisa Robertson (Celtic): Grabbed her first goal of the season with a well-taken header. Influential at the back too as Celtic swept aside Hamilton.

Ellis Notley (Hibs): Popped up with a goal and assist at key moments as Hibs made sure of victory late on against Thistle.

Maria McAneny (Celtic): Scored Celtic's second and her delivery from the corner for their third was brilliantly placed.

Natalia Wrobel (Glasgow City): Always lively and full of energy. The Poland midfielder's defence-splitting pass for City's second was inch perfect.

Sofia Maatta (Glasgow City): On good scoring form. Her goal just before half-time put City in a more comfortable position.

Mia McAulay (Rangers): A bright spark in Rangers' poor first half and her well-taken goal early in the second half provided hope of a comeback.

Georgia Timms (Hearts): Scored two great goals in the upset win over Rangers. Took her penalty with confidence which set the tone for Hearts. Her second was all down to her pace and power.

Carly Johns (Hearts): Won the early penalty for her side as she raced into the area. Her ball to set up Hearts' second goal was inch perfect. Fast becoming a key player for the Edinburgh side.

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland

Belgium, Israel and Luxembourg. The first three obstacles between Scotland and the 2027 World Cup.

Not the best, but not the worst, would be the initial reaction to the draw in Nyon.

Starting from the top, pot one team Belgium are a nation not unfamiliar to Scotland. Two years ago, the countries met in the first iteration of the Nations League in Group A.

Both games finished 1-1 - the only points Scotland picked up in the top tier - but the lasting memory comes from the first meeting at Hampden, when Caroline Weir ruptured her ACL.

That injury meant she missed out on Scotland's meetings with Israel in June 2024 in Nations League B. The Scots didn't need the Real Madrid midfielder's magic, though, as they won 5-0 and 4-1 respectively.

Martha Thomas scored all four goals in the closed-doors game in Budapest.

In the aftermath of the 7 October attack by Hamas and the Israeli government's military response, European football's governing body, Uefa, decided no matches in its own competitions could be held in Israel for security reasons.

As a result, Hungary has mostly been the home of both Israel's men's and women's football teams in the past seven months.

The Scottish FA has been approached for comment regarding the upcoming games against Israel.

When the Israelis came to Hampden, kick-off was delayed as a protestor chained himself to a goalpost.

The lowest-ranked team in the group, Luxembourg, are the nation Scotland have no recent history with. In fact, the sides have never met.

Melissa Andreatta's squad will be hopeful of ensuring there are no slip-ups in the matches against Luxembourg, with Belgium and Israel posing more challenges than perhaps she would have liked.

Wales would have been the preferred Pot 1 team, with Rhian Wilkinson's side on a wretched run of form - as well as now being in the post-Jess Fishlock era.

The recent friendly performance against Switzerland - also a Pot 1 team - has provided reason for optimism and promise in the early days of the Andreatta reign.

This, though, is the real deal. Part one. Let's not even think of the play-offs just yet...

Scotland fans, what do you make of the draw? Let us know your thoughts here.

We asked for your views on Scotland's 4-3 friendly defeat to Switzerland at East End Park.

Here are some of your comments:

Isla: Sterling performance from Scotland. I thought Kirsty Hanson, Kathleen McGovern and Caroline Weir were superb.

Rosealyn: I see lots of positives out of that game. The team looks stronger and more competitive, the results will come soon. Well done girls!

Laura: Absolutely incredible performance from Scotland, such a great team of players, especially McGovern with her goal.

Ali: There's a lot to be positive about based on that showing tonight. Great energy and appetite for goals. Maybe a little narrow early in the first half with players cutting inside and sometimes wanting too long on the ball but overall positive attacking football on show.

Toby: Shame we couldn't win but delighted for Caroline to get her goal at East End. She's done something her fellow Pars fans can only dream of!

Anne-Marie: 'Wasteful' is a bit of an understatement describing Scotland's performance. It was the best display I've seen for a long time by Scotland. They played some good football at times. Created lots of chances and were confident on the ball. Congratulations to the new manager Melissa Andreatta for bringing out the best in these women. In my opinion things can only get better …. Aussie rules!

Caroline Weir scored one and set up two goals on her Dunfermline homecoming, but it was not enough for victory as wasteful Scotland were defeated by Switzerland in an entertaining seven-goal friendly match.

Read the full match report here

Have your say on the game via this link

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Scotland head coach Melissa Andreatta: "Lots of positives.

"What you've probably seen was the progress that we've made and a performance heading in the direction we want to go. That's a team that's in form we've played against. Good teams like that are going to punish you when you make mistakes but we're still working on that. Super super pleased with our performance tonight.

This team wants to be a team that wants to attack and defend aggressively. Tonight we saw a team that can control the game and dominate a really good side. It took some great saves and some clearances, some ref calls maybe, to stop us.

We just ran out of time. I honestly believe it was one of those games where we just ran out of time.

"It's a short turnaround between games now so that will be good for us. We'll be together again soon and playing in the next FIFA window and I'm looking forward to that already."

On Kirsty Maclean: "Her nickname's not Ini [Iniesta] for nothing. She's tidy in small spaces, such a calm composed character. We have many like that in our team but for her age and her experience, she just calms things for us.

"That was one of many good performances. They'll leave the pitch disappointed tonight but many positives tonight."

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at East End Park

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Caroline Weir says it's a dream. Melissa Andreatta believes it'll be an inspiration.

The Ballon d'Or nominee's homecoming to Dunfermline is dominating the discussion as Scotland prepare to host Switzerland at East End Park on Tuesday.

Real Madrid midfielder Weir last took to the home turf of her beloved Pars 15 years ago for a birthday party, but will return for real as the Scots eye back-to-back victories following Friday night's win against Morocco.

Andreatta's squad trained on the pitch earlier on Monday after arriving back from Casablanca on Saturday afternoon, and the head coach said the native had an "ear to ear grin" as she took to the grass.

"She's a lifelong Pars fan, so to be here in her home city, in front of her friends and family - she showed me where her family used to sit - it just gives you that buzz," the Australian said.

"It's special for her and the players are happy for her. She's going to be inspired by the shouting Scots in the stands, the family and friends that she looks up to when she's singing the anthem and the tackles, the running, the big moments that her teammates take in the game.

"I think that's what will inspire her and her teammates to put in the type of performance that we want."

Andreatta familiarised herself with the city a matter of weeks ago, when she also sat down for an exclusive interview with BBC Scotland, and hopes her side's game in Fife is not the last outside of Hampden.

"I've really quite enjoyed it and everyone's so warm and friendly," the Australian said of Dunfermline.

"Then, just now, I was out on the pitch with the coaches looking at our session and Caroline walked out and the grin was from ear to ear.

"It's a beautiful stadium, it's so tight and close. We hope we get around the rest of the country too and share that with other cities and regions as well."

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at East End Park

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Head coach Melissa Andreatta addressed the media before Scotland welcome Switzerland to East End Park in an international friendly on Tuesday.

Here are the key things she said

• Scotland "certainly got everything" they could out of Friday's win in Morocco, on and off the pitch, as the team dealt with conditions, climate and travel in addition to opponent and performance.

• Andreatta is eyeing "more progress" against a "tougher, more organised and in-form team" when they welcome Switzerland to East End Park.

• The head coach "loves the hunger [in the squad] and how they just really want to keep improving themselves and progressing".

• Caroline Weir's homecoming gives everyone "a buzz" and the Australian hopes it can provide "inspiration" for the squad.

• There were no injury concerns before the players took park in their training later today.

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland in Casablanca

Once Caroline Weir's wonder goal hit the back of the net in Casablanca, her focus sharply turned to her dream homecoming in Dunfermline on Tuesday.

The Real Madrid midfielder delivered a bit of magic in Morocco to earn Scotland their first win since 29 October 2024, but now she wants to repeat it at her East End Park.

Melissa Andreatta's side welcome Switzerland to the Kingdom of Fife in the second of four friendlies before the end of the year on Tuesday - live on BBC Alba - and it's set to be an extra-special night for the Ballon d'Or nominee.

Dunfermline native Weir, who last graced the Pars' pitch at a birthday party 15 years ago, can't wait to live out a lifelong dream of representing her country in her hometown.

"I'm so excited to be going back to Dunfermline, and I think the team are excited as well," Weir told BBC Scotland after her winner in Africa.

"I mean, that is the ultimate dream, isn't it? [to score another wonder goal in Dunfermline].

"I don't know, we'll see. That might have been a fluke to be fair with my right foot!"

Fluke or not, it was an fantastic individual moment from the midfielder, who once again had the captain's armband. And the skipper was proud of her squad.

"We knew it was going to be a tough challenge coming over here, not always pretty and playing a different type of team that we're used to," Weir told BBC Scotland.

"But I think the team dealt with it well. Of course, there were tough moments, but we've come out on top.

"And I think this is a start. We need this kind of momentum and a win helps with that.

"We've learned a lot from tonight and I'm really proud of the players."

Caroline Weir's wonder strike from 35 yards in their friendly in Morocco secured Scotland their first win in almost a year.

Read the full match report here

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Scotland head coach Melissa Andreatta: "It feels very good right now but of course need to download the game and get going again for the next one but we'll enjoy this moment with the team.

"It means a lot to the players. They've not only been working hard for their country but they've been doing a lot of work with their club. They've come into camp in great condition, really focused and ready to take on board everything we're throwing at them and they did exactly that.

"We still weren't perfect out there but we got to work on a lot of things we've been doing in training and we've made good progress in some key areas.

"This game afforded us the opportunity to really get our attacking game going so it was good to have more of the ball and work on those principals we've been doing in training. I think that saw us getting into the final third a lot more, creating chances. It's the hardest part of the game converting so we'll keep working on that. Defensively we showed we can be compact but we're still chasing that clean sheet.

"We've got an assistant coach now that specialises in set pieces and with his work, and the team buying into everything, we create chances. Sometimes it's a bit of luck as well but that was set piece after set piece that the first goal came from.

"It's probably the longest trip a lot of these players have done, one of the first times we've been away to an African team but I'm really pleased not just for the players but the staff as well."