Scottish Women's Football

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.

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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."

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Scotland midfielder Erin Cuthbert tells BBC Scotland: "We've been building up a couple of good performances building into this.

"I think conditions didn't really help, among a few other things, but games like this are all about riding it out and trying to get the win. Caz has come up with a lovely individual goal just when we needed her.

It's just a bit of relief. I felt like we dominated the game without creating a whole load of chances. Games like this remind me of when we played Albania to qualify for the world cup.

"It might not be pretty, it might not be nice but we come up with a goal to win it. I think now it is about getting wins on the board for us, it doesn't matter if it's a friendly or not.

"The heat, Scots are not quite acclimatised to it. The pitch conditions weren't quite, I was thinking about every run I made and how I'm planting my foot on the ground which as a football you shouldn't really be doing. It was far from ideal but same for both teams. You've got to make do and win the game.

"It's really frustrating as a player when you want to build momentum and show your fitness you can't really do that when he whistle is getting blown all the time. We're a good transition team and we didn't really get the chance to show that tonight."

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland in Casablanca

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Nicola Docherty is the latest Scotland player to speak of the "fresh feeling" around camp since Melissa Andreatta came in earlier this year.

The Rangers captain has been through the good and bad times over the past six years with the national team. From the high of the World Cup in 2019, to the lows of failing to qualify for the following three major tournaments, Docherty has seen it all.

And she hopes this new group, led by Andreatta, are in the beginnings of a better cycle once again.

"I've been part of that disappointment of the campaigns before, but it's a new staff and it's new challenge and that's something that we're really looking forward to," left-back Docherty told BBC Scotland.

"We've got a balance of experience, with really good, young, raw talent coming through as well.

"So, there's a good balance there and then obviously the staff that Mel's brought in as well have really fit right into the group."

Which is of credit to the Australian, who has equally settled right into the Scotland squad.

"Us as a nation, as Scottish people, we're really passionate, a positive group and Mel certainly emulates that," Docherty added.

"I don't think there's ever a time when she's not got a smile on her face, which I love.

"She loves being here and you can see that she really wants to drive us on and make us a successful nation."

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While the majority of the Scotland team - and travelling media - are slapping on the sun cream and searching for shade in Casablanca, head coach Melissa Andreatta is in her element.

The Australian is more than familiar with the heat showering the Scots in Morocco, but she hopes over the coming days her squad become more accustomed to the climate.

Not because they'll be faced with such boiling conditions back home, but because the next World Cup in 20227 is in Brazil. Boiling indeed.

The players, who made the four-hour flight from Edinburgh on Wednesday, were given a sense of the surroundings on Thursday afternoon when they trained at Stade Pere Jego - the new venue for Friday night's game after the game was moved from Stade El Arbi Zaouli.

"Hopefully the players get a sense for it today because it's earlier and the warmth is here and the humidity is here," Andreatta told BBC Scotland on Thursday.

"It can feel like energy levels are different in this heat, but what you learn is that even though you might feel different, you can still execute your task and your game plan.

"That's been my experience with the hot weather in Australia and different parts around Asia that I've coached and been around a bit.

"But I think with all the processes and support that we've put in place, we want to minimise any physical impact on the players, and we'll take the learnings from this, ultimately.

"That's what it's all about. It's about what we learn here and what we're exposed to will help us inform preparations moving forward."

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland in Casablanca

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Head coach Melissa Andreatta spoke to BBC Scotland before the Scots' friendly against Morocco in Casablanca on Friday.

Here are the key points she made:

• Preparations have been good and the change of stadium on Wednesday morning has had "no impact" thanks to the operations team "handling it really well".

• Andreatta insists "there's still progress to be made" and things "won't be perfect" against Morocco in only her third game in charge, though she hopes her side "build on the attacking and defending aspect" from their last game against the Netherlands in June.

• She admits this is "probably a starting point in many ways" to her reign after her first two games closed out an already-disappointing Nations League campaign.

• The head coach insists there is "much more of an understanding" between her and the players, which is only going to grow among this "calm" group.

• Andreatta hopes that her players realise in these hot conditions that "even though you might feel different, you can still execute your task and your game plan".

• This game is "ultimately a learning" experience. "It's all about what we learn here and what we're exposed to, which will help us inform preparations moving forward."

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland in Casablanca

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Scotland will now face Morocco at Stade Pere Jego in Casablanca on Friday after the hosts changed the stadium.

Melissa Andreatta's side were due to play the first of their two October friendlies at Stade El Arbi Zaouli in the Moroccan city before hosting Switzerland at Dunfermline's East End Park on Tuesday.

But the Scots were informed of the change on Wednesday, hours before they flew to Africa.

Andreatta takes charge of her third Scotland game after beginning her reign with a defeat to Austria and a draw in the Netherlands in the Nations League.

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at Oriam

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The international football calendar allows little time for friendlies these days.

Some love the intensity, the pressure, that every game brings. But for others, particularly those in need of a reset, it means little opportunity to "try new things" is presented.

Thankfully for a fresh-faced Scotland, they have four friendlies to do just that before their World Cup qualifying campaign begins in February.

Starting against Morocco on Friday, there is a feeling this is the true beginning of Melissa Andreatta's reign - after a defeat and draw earlier this year to close out the Nations League campaign kicked off her time as head coach off.

It brings about understandable excitement for the Scotland squad who spent another summer on the sofa following their failure to qualify for Euro 2025.

"It's unique to have four friendlies that give us an opportunity to really kind of hone in on details," midfielder Caroline Weir said.

"When you have Nations League games, it's all about results. Whereas now - yes, of course, we want to win and that's really important - I think we can maybe try new things, work on the training pitch and try it in these matches.

"We want good results this week, we need that. We need that momentum, that confidence and, alongside that, is obviously performance.

"Working out exactly how we want to play, what our identity is going to be moving forward with Mel and the new staff, with some new players as well.

"We want to win and it's all preparation for the World Cup qualifiers next year.

"That's where our focus is, but, obviously, it starts here."

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Lee Gibson (Glasgow City): When called upon she made some vital stops. Produced a great reaction save to prevent Celtic making it 1-1. No doubt helped her side to all three important points and kept City's unbeaten start to the season intact.

Lisa Evans (Glasgow City): Scored City's winner, and it was some strike from a tight angle. Was so influential in the game, both defensively and setting up attacks.

Siobhan Hunter (Hibs): Scored a goal, her fourth in five games, and helped her side keep a clean sheet.

Stacey Papadopoulos (Hibs): Provided the assist for Hibs' opener, scored their fifth, and kept Motherwell at bay in a great afternoon's work.

Sofia Maatta (Glasgow City): Full of energy and intent all afternoon, grabbed City's first goal with a really good finish, and set up their second.

Ellis Notley (Hibs): Got her side off to a great start with an early goal that set the tone, and set up another three. Was key to everything that was good about Hibs.

Quinty Sabajo (Rangers): Dutch midfielder marked her first start with her first goal for Rangers. She continued her attacking intent by setting up two goals in what was an impressive display from Rangers.

Demi Taylor (Montrose): Played a key role in a crucial win over Partick Thistle. Set up Montrose's opening goal, hit the woodwork, and played her part defensively too.

Katie Wilkinson (Rangers): Her goal tally just keeps increasing as she netted five in the rout of Hamilton. Scored a variety of different goals too and played with real confidence.

Kaela McDonald-Nguah (Montrose): Scored both her side's goals as her experience continues to tell in this team. The win moved Montrose into the top six.

Carly Johns (Hearts): Scored two and set up another. Was in the thick of it for Hearts, proving a real attacking threat.

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Celtic head coach Elena Sadiku: We started the game okay in terms of intensity and trying to win the ball. In possession first half, we're not the best at all.

Every time we won the ball, we lost it and it became really transitional.

One of our strengths is in possession when we can move the opponents, when we create chances and first half I don't think we created any chances except for Emma Lawton trying to get the finish.

The last 15-20 minutes we showed character, we were more intense. But we didn't deserve the three points today, so that's the story.

Glasgow City player-assistant coach Hayley Lauder: It was another great game for us off the back of the really busy schedule that we've had.

For 80 minutes I thought we were absolutely superb, controlled the game, and then maybe let them back into it a little bit, lost a little bit of control in the game, but I thought our response was great.

We're absolutely delighted with the position that we're in. It's huge. The character within the group this year is excellent.

"Going from Wednesday and being so high, it takes its toll emotionally and physically. But to come here against a team like Celtic and control large parts of the game, it's huge credit to the girls.

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Rangers head coach Leanne Crichton: I am really pleased, the most pleasing element of it was that ruthlessness throughout the game.

We probably came off it a little bit in the second half, but outwith that kind of five or 10 minute spell I thought we were excellent.

Coming off the back of last week against Hibs and the frustration and disappointment around that result and performance, it was important that we bounced back today and showed that real good intent throughout the game.

I have tried not to think too much about the league table and what it looks like just now but you can't get away from the fact that goals are going to make a difference at some point - whether that is deciding who wins the league title or defining the positions that fall below that.

The quality was there and you could see the enjoyment factor for the players as well.

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Hamilton Academical head coach Robert Watson believes there is "no point having part-time teams" in the topflight of the SWPL, after his side were beaten 11-0 by Rangers.

High-scoring games have not been a rare occurrence in previous SWPL seasons, but there was a hope that moving to a 10-team league over the summer would lead to more competitive games.

"What you saw today was the stark reality," Watson told BBC Scotland after the match.

"The top six teams who can spend money, against the reality of the resource the rest of us have got.

"It was quite evident on the pitch. If that's the way the game is going to continue, we're as well having a top-six league."

Rangers' rampant victory was the biggest win of the season so far, although Accies have failed to win a game all season and have suffered numerous 5-0 defeats.

"Rangers must be spending some 30 times more money," Watson added.

"They are full time. That's the gap, these games can happen. That doesn't excuse our first 30 minutes, we've got to be better.

"But the reality of the current set-up of the league is, we're going to see more and more results like that. It pains me to say it. We're extremely disappointed, but we've got to be realistic."

Partick Thistle, Montrose, Motherwell and Accies are all part-time teams and - alongside Aberdeen - make up the bottom spots in the league.

"I'm going to do a 40-hour-a-week job, starting at 06:00 tomorrow morning, and so are all of our players," Watson continued. "Rangers players aren't.

"Until that disparity is mitigated in some sense, with the league or sponsors, however we might fix that, there's just not a point having the part-time teams in the top league.

"We're further away than ever, and getting further."

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Partick Thistle assistant head coach Craig Potter: It was disappointing, poor. We didn't pass the ball anywhere near what we are capable of.

Very disappointed with every aspect of the game. Didn't create enough and finishing was poor. It's a sore one and a bad day at the office.

We huffed and puffed but didn't cause enough problems and it took us too long to get any quality passes together.

We're going to have to go and reflect on the bad day and make sure it doesn't happen again.

We don't have time to feel for ourselves, we need to get back on the pitch and train hard.

Montrose manager Craig Feroz: The only thing we can really take is the three points. We managed to keep a clean sheet somehow, but I'm very happy with the win.

I don't think we played particularly well. We were comfortable in the first half but they were better in the second.

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Hibernian boss Grant Scott: I'm delighted with the win. It's been a difficult venue in the past.

To get our noses in front and cement that in the first half, it gave us a good platform. I thought we were untidy in the second half but happy with three points and five goals.

The more games you win, the better it feels.

Motherwell manager Paul Brownlie: It's tough but I can only focus on the positives.

Hibs were really effective at set plays. At no point did we allow them to play through us.

We had to tweak a couple of things in terms of shapes but they handled that well.

We know we have to do better defending crosses and set plays - and we didn't do that.

But we played through the lines with good quality and I got a good response from the players.

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Hearts manager Eva Olid: I'm happy because it's always difficult to come here and the wind didn't help us in the first half with our gameplan.

The players put in an excellent performance - so professional.

We wanted to play long but it was difficult with the wind. The ball was going everywhere.

We were unlucky to concede the goal. Carly Johns is performing in every game. She's a striker and she does everything that we need.

Aberdeen boss Scott Booth: I'm disappointed because we don't like losing games.

We made it too easy for Hearts. When you make individual errors, it's very difficult when you're playing the top teams in the league and we can't afford to do that.

Their goals were too easily scored. Players not tracking runners. The first couple of goals we lost were down to individual errors.

We need to make sure we keep working going forward and ask questions of the opposition's back line.