Scottish Women's Football

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Elena Sadiku has urged her players to enjoy Sunday's game against Hibs at Parkhead.

The Swede's side are top of the table as they prepare to take on the Edinburgh outfit in their final game of the season.

A win effectively clinches the league title for Celtic, given their significantly better goal difference than Rangers.

"We know it's the last game we have but we're very excited because we know what it can mean for us," Sadiku said.

"This game is going to be treated exactly the same as all the others. Everybody knows what the game is going to mean for us.

"We all know what's on the line, we just need to enjoy it as well. We've put ourselves into this position and that's something we should be proud of."

Spartans have confirmed club legend Becky Galbraith will depart at the end of the season.

The 34-year-old striker has made 142 appearances for the Edinburgh outfit, scoring 62 goals.

She played a pivotal role in Spartans' run to the Scottish Cup semi-finals this season, scoring a hat-trick in the 5-0 rout of Livingston in the last eight.

"Leaving Spartans has been a very tough decision," Galbraith said.

"However, I leave with a wealth of unforgettable memories and achievements.

"To the players, staff, and supporters, thank you. You have all helped me to become the player I always wanted to be.

"Nothing is possible without a team of good people. To the Spartans girls, thank you. Keep playing, keep dreaming big, and let’s keep growing the women’s game."

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The SWPL title race is heading for a dramatic conclusion and you can watch all the final-day drama on the BBC this Sunday.

Leaders Celtic's game with Hibs at Parkhead (14:10 BST) is live on BBC Alba and on the BBC Sport website, app and iPlayer as Elena Sadiku's side attempt to lift the SWPL trophy for the first time.

Second-place Rangers - who are hoping for a Celtic slip-up - host Partick Thistle (14:10) and that match is available to watch on live on the BBC Sport website, app and iPlayer.

There will also be live text commentary from midday on the BBC Sport website and app of all the SWPL action in what will be a decisive day in the top flight, with Hamilton and Dundee United locked in a battle to avoid automatic relegation.

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Natasha Flint is hoping Celtic can replicate their explosive first-half performance against Hearts when they welcome Hibs in Sunday's title crunch.

Celtic's final game of the season is at Parkhead and a home win will seal the league title for Elena Sadiku's side thanks to their superior goal difference over Rangers.

"It was a massive three points for us [on Wednesday]," said Flint, who scored a double as Celtic raced into a 3-0 half-time lead at Oriam.

"The aim was to get some goals in the first half, we didn't get any in the second but that was okay because we got it over the line in the first.

"We can take that first-half performance into Sunday. We can't take our foot off the gas like we did in the second half.

"I don't think there's any pressure on us at all. We just need to stay calm, stay focused and get the three points we need."

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Rangers captain Nicola Docherty admits the SWPL title is "Celtic's to lose" after her side failed to dent their rivals' superior goal difference on Wednesday night.

The pair remain level on points going into the final day of the season on Sunday after a Kirsty Howat hat-trick helped Rangers beat Hibs 3-2 while Celtic defeated Hearts 3-1.

Celtic are now 16 goals better off and Docherty said: "We wanted it a little differently, we would rather it was in more our hands.

"It's Celtic’s to lose but we’re going into the final game [against Partick Thistle] to get maximum points and hopefully score some goals.

“I think the girls know that when you represent Rangers there is constant pressure on you to win trophies and that’s what it’s all about.

“Everybody knows what it means to play for Rangers and we’ll be going into the last game making sure that we get the three points.

“From the outside point of view, for the neutrals, it’s exciting that the games have gone to the end of the season. It’s what you want in Scottish football."

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Elena Sadiku "can't wait" for the final game of the season at Parkhead as Celtic eye the title.

The Swede's side host Hibs on Sunday and are one victory away from lifting their first SWPL trophy.

Celtic, level on points with Rangers, kept their place at the top and enhanced their goal difference to 16 with a 3-1 victory over Hearts at Oriam.

"I'm very pleased with the first half," Sadiku said.

"It's exactly how I want us to play. Some of our football was incredible and I'm so proud of the girls for it.

"We got the job done, the aim for us is always winning games. We just need to focus on what we need to do and we will win games.

"I can't wait [for Sunday] I'm so excited. We all know what the game is about, playing at Paradise, hopefully we can get so much support and have a great day together."

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Jo Potter bemoaned Rangers' inability to cut their goal difference to SWPL leaders Celtic, leaving their title hopes in serious doubt.

Kirsty Howat's hat-trick was enough to secure a 3-2 victory over Hibs but left them 16 goals behind Elena Sadiku's team.

The Old Firm rivals will enter the final day level on points, with Potter feeling Sunday's finale could have been more nervy if Rangers had their shooting boots on.

“We should have cut that goal difference down heftily I think, that’s my frustration right now," said Potter.

“I want to see the stats to see what they come back at, but from own two eyes it was clear that we had a lot of goalscoring opportunities, clear-cut ones as well. I would’ve liked us to have scored more goals.

“I thought it should have been at least four or five at half-time and then that puts you in a different position second half and then who knows? If you cut that goal difference down significantly then it’s all to play for on Sunday.

“The three points are there, we take it down to the final day but I think we could’ve done a better job at denting that goal difference tonight."

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Clinton Lancaster is "gutted" Aberdeen couldn't mark their final home game of his tenure with a win.

Wednesday's 1-1 draw with Dundee United was Lancaster's last at home as he prepares to step down from his role as head coach.

"I'm gutted to not get the win, not just for my last home game but for some of the players that came in," he told club media, external.

"The girls have been phenomenal all season so I can't fault them.

"We haven't lost the game, we've picked up a point and we'll look ahead to the next game and hopefully go out with a bang."

Brian Graham insists Partick Thistle didn't deserve to be on the end of a 2-0 defeat to Glasgow City.

Thistle now can't finish above sixth place with just a trip to face Rangers left, but the manager has been pleased with what he's seen from his side post-split.

"We never really troubled their goalkeeper but we contained City for large parts of the game," Graham said.

"City weren't really peppering our goal either but at times we've got to retain the ball better.

"The players worked extremely hard for each other. It was a good performance but we could have been better.

"We've been so much more competitive in the top six. The girls are disappointed to come away with 2-0 because I don't think they deserved that."

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Hearts manager Eva Olid is upbeat about the Scottish Cup final against Rangers, despite two defeats in a row.

The Edinburgh outfit were beaten 3-1 by Celtic on Wednesday following a 2-0 defeat by Hibs last Friday.

"In the first half Celtic were amazing but we were a little disorganised in defence and they were so much better," Olid said.

"We committed simple mistakes and they scored.

"We modified a few things tactically at half-time and I think it worked really well because in the second half we improved massively and that's the positive.

"That is the energy and attitude we need for the final, so that's the positive message heading into the cup final."

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Grant Scott says Hibs are playing for "professional pride" in their final SWPL game.

Following their 3-2 defeat by Rangers on Wednesday night the Edinburgh outfit travel to Parkhead to take on leaders Celtic, who need victory to clinch the title.

“We didn't perform as well as we’d hoped in the game," Scott said.

"Credit to Rangers they were very on it and we weren’t, and you’ve not got room to do that against the top teams.

"I’m disappointed but credit to the players, they took their chances so that’s a positive, but we need to be better.

“It’s exciting times, we’ve got one game left and there’s a lot of noise about the league and where it’s going to go. We’re playing for our professional pride really."

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Dundee United climbed off the bottom of the SWPL with a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Aberdeen.

Morgan Steedman fired the visitors in front but the Dons hit back almost immediately when Eva Thomson found the back of the net.

Read the full report here.

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Hamilton dropped to the bottom of the SWPL after a 4-2 defeat at Motherwell in the Lanarkshire derby.

The visitors led at half-time after Melissa Reid and Chloe Muir netted either side of Morgan Cross' Motherwell leveller.

Cross struck again to make it 2-2 and Paul Brownlie's side scored twice in the final 20 minutes through Amy Anderson and Joanne Addie to secure victory.

Read the full report here.

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Third-place Glasgow City came out on top in a testy SWPL game against Partick Thistle at Petershill.

It was a 2-0 victory for the visitors as midfielder Carlee Giammona bagged both goals in the second half.

Read the full report here.

It was the penultimate round of SWPL fixtures on Wednesday night with wins for both Celtic and Rangers taking the title fight to the final day.

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Celtic’s bid for their first SWPL title remains in their own hands going into the final round of games after a commanding win against Hearts.

A potentially tricky trip to the capital was settled comfortably in the first half with impressive goals from Tash Flint either side of Amy Gallacher’s stabbed effort.

The on-loan Liverpool striker left Lizzie Waldie in a spin before tucking away the opener and then capitalised on Rachel Johnstone’s indecision to creatively lob in Celtic’s third.

Waldie’s late headed consolation appeared to have reinstated the title race as it was, but Rangers conceded a late double at Meadowbank.

Elena Sadiku’s side are still level on points with Jo Potter's team, but their goal difference was extended to 16 going into Sunday's final day after Hibs' late goals in Edinburgh cut their win to a one-goal margin.

• Read the full report here.

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Rangers' hopes of pipping Celtic to the SWPL title have dwindled further despite victory over Hibernian.

The title rivals remain level going into Sunday's final matches, thanks to Kirsty Howat hat trick helping Rangers to a 3-2 win at Meadowbank while Celtic were beating Hearts.

But Jo Potter's side were unable to cut the goal difference deficit of 16 so will need a favour from Hibs on Sunday, when they face Celtic.

• Read the full report here.