Scottish Women's Football

David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Glasgow City head coach Leanne Ross reckons the Women's Scottish Cup final will be contested by two "disappointed teams" as her players and opponents Rangers have failed to meet their main target this season – winning the SWPL.

City though have the consolation of a Champions League place after finishing second in the league, one place above Rangers, who they meet at Hampden on Sunday.

"Obviously, we're both very disappointed in terms of that objective of going and winning the league this season," said Ross.

"The next best thing for us was obviously that second place and guaranteed European football. So, yes, we've come out on top there. But there's still disappointment within our camp."

Ross won the Scottish Cup seven times in her long playing career with City, while Rangers are the holders, having picked up the trophy for the first time last term.

"There's a real excitement about the place in terms of the training ground," added Ross. "The players know that there's jerseys to play for in that starting line-up and the squad. So it's trying to keep them calm and keep their feet on the ground so that the preparations are right.

"This club is synonymous with lifting trophies. It's something that we pride ourselves on in terms of being in the last stages of competitions and being up there fighting right until the end.

"The Scottish Cup in itself is a special competition, especially to the Scottish players and staff. It's something that we've grown up with and the fact that we're now able to play at the national stadium as well just adds a little bit more excitement."

David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Head coach Jo Potter says having the Women's Scottish Cup to look forward has saved Rangers from "an horrendous week."

Her team face Glasgow City at Hampden on Sunday seven days after a defeat to Hibernian at Ibrox – in what was effectively a SWPL title-decider.

"We can't sulk," said Potter. "If we didn't have had a cup final, this week would have been horrendous for us. You come off the back of a massive loss at the weekend. You come crashing down."

Potter believes Rangers can "bounce back" from the failure to beat Hibs, which meant her side finished third in the league and missed out on European football for next season.

"We've got to change the mindset very quickly," she added. "We've got to make sure that we're changing our focus onto another game.

"There was a big trophy on the line Sunday and we didn't manage to turn up and get that one over the line. But we've got another chance again this week."

A win over City would complete a cup double for Rangers, following their Sky Sports Cup final win over Hibs earlier in the season.

Potter says although winning a treble was the aim, securing a double would make it a successful season.

"If we'd have won a treble, I'd have said that would have been unreal," she explained. "We can't make up for what happened in the league. We don't shy away from that. But we've got to put a few things right.

"We've got to make sure that we're proud of our performances. We've not been proud of a lot of performances that we've put on throughout this season. And it hasn't been good enough ultimately.

"We've got a chance to put it right. And when there's a trophy on the line, you've got to do all you can."

On the latest episode of Behind the Goals, Rachel Corsie and Leanne Crichton look back at Hibs' momentous SWPL title win and preview the upcoming Scottish Cup final between Glasgow City and Rangers.

Plus, Corsie gives her reaction to being recalled to the Scotland squad by new head coach Melissa Andreatta.

Listen and subscribe on BBC Sounds

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Noa Schumacher (Hibs): Made a couple of big saves early on in the title shootout match against Rangers. The one to stop Mia Macaulay as she raced through was especially impressive and it set the tone for resilient Hibs' win.

Kimberley Smit (Glasgow City): Brilliant header for City's opening goal against Hearts. Comfortable at the back too and was consistently looking to set up attacks.

Linzi Taylor (Hibs): Scored the winning goal to seal her side's first SWPL in 18 years. And what a goal it was. The defender raced forward and her finish was exceptional. A cool volley.

Siobhan Hunter (Hibs): When Rangers were piling on the pressure the defender put her body on the line to keep them at bay. A typical all-or-nothing performance from a key player for Hibs.

Louise Brown (Montrose): Set up the opener against Dundee United to set Montrose on their way to a huge win as they retained their top-flight status. Also scored their fourth to seal a good end to the season.

Hayley Lauder (Glasgow City): In her 250th appearance for City, the Scotland international's influence was clear. On-point delivery for the opening goal too.

Kirsten Reilly (Hibs): Committed all afternoon, whether it was driving forward or breaking up play. Confident to have a go at goal from 30 yards and was unlucky when her effort cracked the bar.

Lucy Ashworth-Clifford (Celtic): Scored two and provided two assists in the thrashing of Motherwell. Her second strike was all about great pressure and persistence.

Nicole Kazlova (Glasgow City): Great awareness and positioning as she grabbed city's second goal. Could have had more too, was a constant threat.

Kathleen McGovern (Hibs): The striker's commitment was exemplified when she set up the winning goal. She chased the ball, did brilliantly to keep it in play, then floated in a great ball for Taylor. The 22-year-old has had an amazing season and deserved to play a part in such a big goal.

Neve Guthrie (Montrose): Scored a goal and set one up as she played her part in a vital win for Montrose.

Watch SWPL top-six highlights, including Hibs' title win at Ibrox

Watch SWPL bottom-six highlights

We asked you for your views following Hibernian's title-winning heroics at Ibrox.

Here's what some of you had to say:

George: Brilliant, just brilliant. Such a gutsy performance, aligned with loads of skill, across the season.

Enjoy Sunshine on Leith during the summer. Come back refreshed and take all you have into the Champions League.

Stephen: Well done Hibs, an amazing achievement. The feel good factor is alive and kicking at Hibernian.

Steve: I thought that was it for the rest of Scottish women's football when Celtic and Rangers went professional in 2020. How pleased I am to be proved wrong. Well done to all involved at Hibs, an absolutely phenomenal performance from our women.

Happy Hibee: Awesome achievement for Hibs. Many people just won't realise how much of an accomplishment this is. Congratulations, Hibees!

Alan: Well what an end of season for Hibs women, going one better than the men's team and winning the league. Thoroughly deserved and Grant Scott take a bow - what management throughout the season.

This team epitomises what a team can do when they truly are a team together! Fantastic advertisement for the women's game in Scotland. Think I can hear 'Sunshine on Leith' all the way down here in Llangollen!

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Hibs defender and goal scorer Linzi Taylor tells BBC Scotland: "It doesn't feel real, I don't think it will for a number of days. It's what we've been working for all season.

"A lot of people wrote us off but we knew what we had in the changing room and we knew if we stuck together then anything was possible and I think it's safe to say we were daring to dream.

"It's unbelievable for the club, for everyone involved, this group of players deserve it. It's a collective, the club has given us the backing and we've shown them what we can do. "

Hibs centre-back Siobhan Hunter tells Sky Sports: "Probably at the start nobody thought it, which makes it even sweeter. It was a dream.

"We had a couple of results where we slipped up but when it counted we stood up for one another. It's so special I can't put it into words."

Hibs full-back Lauren Doran-Barr tells HibsTV: "It's surreal. I'm so proud and it's nothing less than we deserve.

"I can't believe we're going to playing Champions League football. It's such an amazing opportunity for us to showcase what we can do on that stage."

Hibs midfielder Ciara Grant tells HibsTV: "So many people didn't think we'd be able to go the whole way but we proved we can and everyone is buzzing.

"Everyone put in every ounce of effort, it was absolutely roasting so its just class and it's such a nice feeling to do it the way we did it."

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Hibernian head coach Grant Scott: "I think the group of players we've got, we've pushed them to the absolute limit. There's some broken bodies out there and some in the dugout, in the stands.

"I think for us in this kind of modern era of Scottish women's football, that's a massive achievement.

"We'll digest it. We've got a lot of work to do now for the new season and I'm going to demand that these girls look for more. I think it's just the start for us, hopefully.

"There was certainly a point, I think, before December, where we let ourselves down in a couple of games and we kind of felt the external world was almost waiting for us to trip.

"A lot of the players talk about going away to Rangers at Broadwood at the back end of December and having a great performance and a great result as a kind of turning point.

"Personally, I didn't feel it but I thought what it did was it made everyone outside of us as a group take notice a little bit.

"We had to back it up in January when we played Glasgow City and then Celtic and the players did that and that, for me, compounded what I thought we could be.

"But there's no easy games in that post-split, I think our record's good and the players thoroughly deserve their spot at the top now.

"I think what you're seeing now is a Hibs team that has gone through that transformation - a couple of years behind everyone else - and now having had a couple of years almost of full-backing, full-time nature of the players being in the building four or five times a week, all the resources that have been put behind them has given them that platform to compete.

"I think when you get a good group, sometimes it's good choices, sometimes by luck but I think the group have really gelled this season and there's a belief in them and I hope they keep that going."

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Kathleen McGovern says Hibs proved "why we're league winners" with a battling 1-0 performance at Ibrox.

Grant Scott's side headed into the game knowing a draw would be enough to seal their first league title in 18 years but managed to come out with all three points.

Striker McGovern set up defender Linzi Taylor to volley home the only goal of the game on the 74th minute and secure their first SWPL trophy since 2007.

"I'm a bit lost for words," McGovern said.

"This group is special, you've seen it all season. The consistency throughout the group has been phenomenal all season.

"It was good to grind the result out. It was a wee bit nervy at the end of the game but we put bodies on the line, the players that came off the bench, that just shows why we're league winners.

"We took it one game at a time and did our talking indoors. I think a lot of people had us written off by January but we knew what group we had. We kept working hard and you can see that in the performances.

"We had fire in the belly today, we fought for each other and we've had that all season being the underdogs."

The SWPL trophy is heading to Edinburgh, Hibs' 1-0 win over Rangers at Ibrox was enough to secure their first league title in 18 years.

Elsewhere at the top, Glasgow City snuck in to snatch the European spot from Rangers thanks to their win over Hearts. Meanwhile at the bottom, Spartans were relegated following their 2-1 defeat to Partick Thistle.

What have you made of this SWPL season? Were Hibs deserved winners in the end? What are your predictions for next season?

Have your say

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

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The shootout between Hibs and Rangers at the top promises a thrilling conclusion to the SWPL season, but the title isn't the only thing at stake on the final day.

Race for second

Although Glasgow City are all but out of the title race because of their inferior goal difference to Rangers, Leanne Ross' side still have a lot to play for.

Second place will clinch a qualifying spot for next season's Women's Champions League and City - level on points with Rangers - are within touching distance.

First of all, Ross' side need to be Hearts at home. With the three points in the bag, they're almost guaranteed second.

That's because if Rangers lose, City will be three points above them in second place. If Rangers and Hibs draw, City will be two points better off than their Glasgow rivals. If Hibs lose, City will finish above the capital club on goal difference.

If City draw, they can only finish second if Rangers lose to Hibs.

Battle at the bottom

Queen's Park and Dundee United are already relegated but with the restructure of the league, there's still another team to go down.

Montrose occupy the third and final relegation place but they're only two points below Spartans heading into the final game.

Montrose host bottom side United while Spartans are at home to the team currently best of the rest, Partick Thistle.

Montrose have overcome United every time they've met this season and the same goes for last season as well.

Spartans, on the other hand, have failed to beat Thistle this term. They eked out a 1-1 draw in December but apart from that, Thistle have come out on top in the other three meetings, including a Scottish Cup tie.

Best of the rest

The spot at the top of the bottom six - the best of the rest position - is still to be decided.

Thistle, who finished the previous two campaigns in the top six, are currently in seventh but they're only two points clear of Aberdeen.

As mentioned, Thistle are travelling to face Spartans who they haven't lost to this term. The Dons are also on the road, at already-relegated Queen's Park.

The only way for Aberdeen to usurp Thistle in seventh is if the Dons win and Brian Graham's side lose. With SWPL survival at stake for Spartans, that's not out of the question.

How to follow on BBC

BBC Alba have live coverage of Glasgow City's game against Hearts which you can watch on the channel, or on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app. That one kicks off at 12:00 BST.

There's Sportsound commentary from Rangers v Hibs' title decider, which also gets under way at 12:00 BST.

As usual, you'll be able to follow live text updates from all the games on the BBC Sport website and app.

Kenny Crawford
BBC Sport Scotland

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Hibernian manager Grant Scott has been speaking to the media before his side's SWPL title decider against Rangers at Ibrox on Sunday.

Here are the main points:

• Scott says it's "phenomenal" that it's going to a last day shootout in the SWPL for the third year in a row.

• ⁠The manager insists it would be "huge" for Hibs if they can seal their first SWPL title since 2007.

• ⁠He adds that Hibs have been "flag bearers" in the league for the past couple of decades so says it would be brilliant to be back on top again.

• ⁠Michaela McAlonie and Caley Gibb, who both had to be substited during Wednesday night's win over Celtic, are being assessed day by day and are rated 50/50 for Sunday.

• Scott is treating Sunday as one-off and not referring back to good results in the league against Rangers (two wins and one draw) already this season.

• Grant Scott has a family social event on Saturday, so he hopes that keeps his mind off the nerves for Sunday.

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Rangers manager Jo Potter has been speaking to the media as her side prepare for a must-win title decider against Hibs on Sunday.

Here are the main points:

• Potter is proud of how her players have come through a challenging week and "showed real character" to get to a point where one victory stands between them and the SWPL title.

• Even though Rangers have a Scottish Cup final on the horizon, Potter insists her side are not looking beyond Sunday's game: "We can't take our eye of what's in front of us because we know it can change very quickly."

• Sunday's match will take place at Ibrox instead of their usual home venue of Broadwood, and the boss is hoping the stadium "can be a real advantage", adding: "If that gives us an extra two, three, four, 10%, we want to use it."

• Rangers were 5-0 winners in the SWPL Cup final earlier this season but Potter insists Hibs "will have learned" from that game and "won't want to see that again".

• The decider marks the third year in a row the SWPL title has gone down to the final day and Potter says it's "huge" for the competition - "there's no other league that has this drama".

Scotland head coach Melissa Andreatta explains the "easy" decision to recall captain Rachel Corsie after injury.

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at Hampden

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Scotland head coach Melissa Andreatta believes Kathleen McGovern is "what Scotland need" after the Australian called up the Hibernian striker to the national team for the first time.

McGovern has 25 goals for the SWPL league leaders this season and has represented Scotland at various youth levels.

At her first news conference as Scotland boss, the Australian said she had taken in Hibs' Edinburgh derby win at Hearts and the forward caught her eye.

"It's a combination of that [what I saw in that game] and just what I would like to do with this team," Andreatta said.

Despite being just 22 years old, McGovern has been on the domestic scene for some time and excelled at city rivals Hearts before joining Hibs in the summer.

After coming through the ranks at Celtic, she spent a season in Germany with SC Sand and built on her fierce finishing and superb strength.

"I think her personality also, what you see on the field and she's a good fit for this team and what we need in this point in time," Andreatta added.

"She's worked really hard for this opportunity and she's deserved it with those performances week in, week out and earned it."