Scottish Women's Football

Image source, SNS

The post-split fixtures have been announced in the SWPL, with the the big three avoiding each other on the final day of the season.

However, Rangers will end their campaign with a visit from title challengers Hibernian, who are aiming for their first SWPL title since 2007.

The final round of top six fixtures, which sees Celtic welcome Motherwell and Glasgow City host Hearts, will be played on Sunday 18 May.

Meanwhile in the bottom six, Montrose will be hoping they can accrue enough points to drag Spartans and Aberdeen into the relegation zone - which features three teams before next year's re-formatting of the league.

On the final day of the season, the Mighty Mo are at home to Dundee United, Queen's Park host Aberdeen, and Spartans welcome Partick Thistle.

SWPL Managing Director, Fiona McIntyre, said: "The ScottishPower Women's Premier League has become renowned in recent years for tight title races and incredible final day drama, so we are delighted to reveal the post-split fixtures today which set the stage for what we anticipate will be another epic race to the title.

"Incredibly the 2024/2025 season looks set to eclipse anything we have seen before, with an unprecedented four clubs currently on 51 points after 21 matches."

Interim Scotland head coach Michael McArdle speaks to BBC Scotland about the new players in the group and how he feels ahead of his first match in charge.

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, Getty Images

"Energy and directness" that's what Scotland interim manager Michael McArdle is expecting from first time call up Emma Lawton.

And the full-back has had a pretty incredible few months.

Lawton signed for Celtic in September, making the step up from part-time Partick Thistle to the professional Scottish champions.

Fast forward two weeks and the defender started, and scored, in the Glasgow side's final Champions League qualifier.

She has been called up for Scotland at Under-23 level, but this camp is her first foray into the senior set up.

Former Scotland international Leanne Crichton told the BBC's Behind the Goals podcast: "I'm excited to see the likes of Emma Lawton in there.

"She's in such a fine bit of form just now and she's a big reason Celtic are at the top of the table, joint with the other four. Her performances this season, at Champions League level as well, she's kept those consistency levels.

"I'm excited to see her. It's probably been a position as well, right wing-back, that has changed an awful lot over the years for Scotland. Performance wise, I just don't feel there's been consistency.

"It's probably up for grabs and if you really go and stamp your authority you can make it your own. I know Emma will be looking to try and do that."

The full-back clearly isn't phased by big occasions. Just 10 days after joining Elena Sadiku's side, Lawton came off the bench in the crucial first leg Champions League play-off tie against Vorskla.

She clearly impressed and was given the nod to start in the second leg, getting Celtic off the mark in the second half with a cracking goal to put Sadiku's side in the driving seat for the remainder of the half.

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, Getty Images

Interim Scotland manager Michael McArdle has been speaking to the media as his side prepare to face Austria in their Nations League opener on Friday.

Here are the main points:

• McArdle says the nine changes to the squad from the defeat to Finland are an attempt to "freshen up" ahead of a new campaign.

• Says he's "disappointed" to lose Erin Cuthbert through injury but is looking forward to getting her back in the squad for future games.

• On Emma Lawton specifically, the interim boss likes the fullback's "energy and directness" on the pitch as well as in the training ground.

• Says Austria will likely be "unpredictable" given their change in head coach but is fully focused on how Scotland perform and preparing as well as possible.

• McArdle wants to bring "energy" back to the supporters and the squad after the Euro 2025 disappointment and insists it's "down to us" to reconnect with the fans.

• Says it's a "proud moment" for him to take charge but is mainly focused on supporting the players "as best as possible".

• "Relishing" the chance to come up against top opposition in League A.

• Adds he has "an excellent leadership group" as Caroline Weir prepares to take the armband.

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

Caroline Weir says the first Scotland camp of 2025 has felt "like the first day of school" with six uncapped players joining the ranks.

Interim head coach Michael McArdle has brought in ten different players to the squad that suffered defeat against Finland in their two-legged Euro 2025 play-off final at the tail end of last year.

Celtic defender Emma Lawton, Hearts midfielder Eilidh Shore, Hibernian forward Eilidh Adams, goalkeeper Erin Clachers, winger Mia McAulay and Newcastle United midfielder Freya Gregory - who represented England at youth level - have all been called up, none of whom have earned a senior cap for the Scots.

However, the Real Madrid midfielder says even the more experienced players are feeling the nerves as a "new cycle" kicks in: "It's a bit of both [nerves and excitement],

"Even senior players coming in, it's all new for us as well. A lot of new faces, it's not quite like the first day of school but it's kind of similar in some ways.

"We had a welcome on Monday night and it was very clear about how the week was going to look in terms of training and just how Michael likes to work.

"So for players, that's key. Things being as clear as possible and Michael's definitely tried to do that from the outset.

"We're excited and I think it always feels best when we're on the pitch and get a couple of training sessions done and everyone starts to relax a little bit."

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

Caroline Weir addressed the media after linking up with the Scotland women's national team before their first game of 2025 on Friday against Austria.

Here are the key things she said:

• Scotland are "done looking back" on failure in Finland to reach this summer's Euros, and with new, interim manager Mick McArdle at the helm, she said it's "a fresh start for all of us".

• The Real Madrid midfielder insisted Scotland "gave everything" to qualify and "the disappointment hit everyone really hard".

• "Time will tell" if Scotland have learned their lessons from the past campaign but the "excitement and nerves" are there to start a fresh cycle and make it a successful campaign for Scotland.

• Weir confirmed she would be captain for these two games in Rachel Corsie's absence, and reiterated it's "a huge honour".

• On the loss of Erin Cuthbert to injury, Weir said she's "gutted" as the Chelsea midfielder is "an integral part of the squad on and off the pitch".

Leanne Crichton calls it "madness," Rachel Corsie says "it's incredible".

The Behind the Goals hosts can only be talking about the tied top four in the SWPL.

Due to Glasgow City and Celtic drawing on Friday night, and Rangers and Hibernian both winning on Sunday, all four sides are now locked on 51 points with one game left before the split.

Hearts and Motherwell will make up the top-half split come March, which Scotland captain Corsie says will be "a fascinating watch".

"All the games look like they're just going to be so competitive once we get to the split," she said on the BBC podcast. "It's just going to be fascinating to watch.

"You'd almost imagine that it could end up being that somebody new ends up top of the table just about every week, or is one team just going to be like, well, other teams might get points off each other, but we are just going to go on a run."

Corsie also heaped praise on Crichton's former team, Motherwell, who have secured a top-six finish for the first time in their history.

"I'm pleased for them [Motherwell] because I know you were there, we know Paul B [Paul Brownlie] and I know your brother's there," added the Aston Villa defender.

"They've got a good framework, they've worked hard to set that up. There's a structure, there's a plan. I like when I hear that, you see good things from those teams.

"I do worry a little bit for them because I think there is a gap between them and the teams above them. In a really respectful way I think that's fair to say, we're talking budgets, quality of players, infrastructure, all that stuff.

"It's great they're there, but I do feel like there's not that much scope for that goal difference to be reduced I don't think."

Image source, SNS

Partick Thistle manager Brian Graham: "I thought for large parts of the game we were well in it, it was just key moments.

"Rachel Donaldson said the ball was out of play for the second goal, she said she made a mistake with the pass inside but if the ball was out, the ball was out. Rangers then go and score from that.

"There was only supposed to be a minute added on, we played three in the first half and we scored from a corner. I was left scratching my head at half-time because all of a sudden we were 3-0 down.

"You need concentration for the full 90 minutes against top sides and we got punished when we didn't."

Rangers manager Jo Potter: "I thought we scored some excellent goals, I thought we controlled the game.

"I didn't want last week's performance to be a one off and I'd asked the players to build on it so it was really pleasing to see.

"We knew what was up for grabs in the game, we've put ourselves in this position. We didn't want it to come down to goal difference again and we've given ourselves a nice lead just now.

"If that's how we're going to be at the top we'll take it."

Image source, SNS

Hearts manager Eva Olid: "I am happy not just with the three points but also with the goals.

"After last Sunday it was so important that we took our chances today. It's not easy because they were well organised in defence, they had a good performance last week against Hibs so we knew it wouldn't be easy.

"We are in the fight, we believe totally. We have a full squad for the split and we are so confident."

Queen's Park manager Iain Robinson: "For me it's disappointing the way we conceded the goals.

"We thought there were moments when we attacked where we could have threatened more and we could have hold onto the ball better but the overall feeling is disappointment.

"We know there will be difficult challenges ahead, it won't be clear and easy games but we know we'll be able to manage batter against the teams around us."

Glasgow City boss Leanne Ross has quizzed Scottish FA refereeing head Willie Collum about recent decisions that have affected the SWPL leaders. (Sun), external

Read Sunday's Scottish gossip

Image source, SNS

Captain Hayley Lauder says Glasgow City's "character shone through" in the thrilling 2-2 draw with Celtic.

Leanne Ross' side came from behind to lead Celtic 2-1 at half-time in the clash at Petershill before an impressive goal from Maria McAneny levelled things up for the visitors.

City remain top of the table on goal difference but will slip behind Rangers if the Ibrox side beat Partick Thistle on Sunday.

"I think hopefully it's a point gained," Lauder said of the 2-2 draw.

"There's aspects we're not happy about but the character again to come back, I'm proud of the girls and the performance.

"We always speak about adversity and sticking together and I think this group always does that. We always show up for each other. The character shone through and I'm so proud."

Image source, SNS

Celtic captain Kelly Clark's pride at her team's performance in the 2-2 draw with Glasgow City was tinged with frustration over not edging victory.

Amy Gallacher opened the scoring for Elena Sadiku's side inside the first minute but the visitors conceded twice in quick succession and trailed City by a goal at the break.

A wonder goal from Maria McAneny got Celtic level in the second half and despite chances late on, neither side could find a winner.

"It was a high quality game, probably good for the neutral," Clark said.

"Four good goals, end to end, both teams went for it in the end. We're frustrated not to get three points but these games are really hard and we're happy with our performance overall.

"We're really aggressive, we really do try and prevent teams from playing football.

"When you can do that at the start of the game, start fast, you create chances from it. We take pride in it, it's the way we want to play and the stats say we do it really well."

Image source, SNS

Celtic head coach Elena Sadiku: "I'm proud of the players. I want to give Glasgow City a compliment because how they scored the goals was amazing.

"How we play and how we are pushing on, it's really good to see. I was frustrated we were losing at half-time because I didn't think that was how the game played out, I thought we were the better team.

"We always want to win and that was the focus. I feel like we were pushing, I don't think they were too dangerous in front of goal and we should have done better.

"I love the players. I love the staff. We've been having a hard time with how busy the schedule has been but we keep pushing. Our focus is on winning the league and I think we're only going to get stronger and stronger."

Glasgow City manager Leanne Ross: "I think it was a really good, competitive game from two teams fighting it out for the title.

"It was close as I said it was going to be at the start of the game. It's a difficult opponent and still a lot to play for in the title race.

"I was a bit aggrieved at the start with a Celtic player being 30 yards in our half before the game kicked off, apparently it was a miscommunication between the officials.

"I said to the players at half time we needed to deal with the situation better but the character to come back was fantastic. In the second half we had a lot of sustained pressure on the Celtic goal but not that killer touch to get the three points."