Scottish Women's Football

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Scotland forward Kirsty Howat has left Rangers to join Crystal Palace for an undisclosed fee.

The 28-year-old scored 26 goals last season, matching her tally from the previous campaign, as Rangers won both cups and finished as runners-up in the SWPL.

She joins former Ibrox manager Jo Potter at the Women's Super League 2 club.

"Making this decision to leave the club I support and love has been the hardest decision I've ever had to make," she said.

"I have fulfilled my dream of being a professional footballer and to do it at the club I love and support has been a privilege."

Howat began her career at Rangers and had spells at Celtic and Glasgow City before returning in 2020.

Rangers celebrated their first title success in the following season.

Howat made her Scotland debut in 2024 and has added two more caps since.

Daldeep Kaur
BBC Sport Scotland

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Leanne Crichton is "interested to see if it feels any different when you're standing in the dugout," as she prepares for her first Old Firm derby as Rangers head coach.

Crichton's side travel to face rivals Celtic on Sunday, and after a just a month in charge the former Glasgow City player is keen to see how her players perform.

"The hype and the hysteria around the game itself is probably the element that makes it a little bit different, there's an expectation that then transfers on to the pitch," said Crichton.

"The preparation this week has not changed. We've not gone about our business any differently than we would have done last week against Motherwell or the week previous, against Hearts.

"It's the early part of the season just now for me. It's about that consistency across the board and the consistency in the messages that we're delivering.

"I'm looking forward to the fixture. I'm interested to see if it feels any different when you're standing in the dugout. I'm excited for it. The players are really up for it. It's a good opportunity for us as well at this stage of the season to go again and get another gauge for where we're at and how much information we've taken on physically where we're at as a team."

And Crichton added: "What I'm looking for from them on Sunday is a Rangers team that are ready to compete, that are ready to embrace the challenge, that are going to go and take the game to Celtic and look to try and take as many positives from our own performance as we possibly can.

"We understand where the league is at and how competitive it's going to be, so in this early stage it gives you a real good chance to understand your opponents and how things might shape up as time goes on."

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Milly Boughton is "excited" to play for Hibs after the midfielder left Arsenal to join the SWPL champions on a two-year deal.

The 19-year-old played last season with the Gunners' Under-21 squad and previously spent time at West Ham, Tottenham and Ipswich.

Boughton was part of the Australia squad at the 2024 Under-20 Asian Cup, where she played every match as the Young Matildas secured a bronze medal - their joint-best finish in the competition's history.

"I'm really excited to meet everyone. I watched the European game last week and it was really good to see everyone playing," said Boughton.

"I can't wait to see how I fit into the team, and I also can't wait to play in front of the fans on Sunday."

Head coach Grant Scott said: "Milly is a talented young player we are excited to have come into our squad as the new season gets under way.

"She is still young, with plenty of potential, and we hope to help her in her development."

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Katie Cox (Aberdeen): A really solid performance for the Dons, ensuring a clean sheet to go with their win. A fine save at the death to keep Montrose out.

Emma Lawton (Celtic): Key defensively and also provided two assists in the 7-0 thumping of former club Partick Thistle.

Hannah Coakley (Hamilton): A defeat for Accies to Hearts, but they worked so hard defensively to keep the scoreline down and emerge with much credit. The back three worked well, Coakley just gets the nod ahead of her fellow defenders.

Jessica Broadrick (Aberdeen): Aberdeen's backline played their part in the club's important first win of the season and Broadrick was central to that.

Orla Burn (Motherwell): Just turned 16 and despite being on the losing side, was a real asset for Motherwell. She made some excellent blocks, tackles and was intent on trying to get forward to set up attacks.

Morgan Cross (Celtic): Has started this season really well, proving a key player for Celtic, and her clever finish made it 2-0.

Natalie Ross (Celtic): Reacted quickly to pounce on the loose ball for her goal. Quite the finish too. Before that played an integral role in the opener.

Lauren Wade (Hearts): Eva Olid's side weren't at their best, but the midfielder's assist for the opener demonstrated how hard she works. Had some joy down the left flank and tried to drive her side on.

Kirsty Howat (Rangers): In from the start and repaid her manager with a fine winning goal following lovely link-up play with Katie Wilkinson. Had other efforts well saved by the Motherwell goalie.

Alex Clarke (Aberdeen): Was lively going forward all afternoon, and was rewarded with her first goal for Aberdeen. Could have scored more if it wasn't for good goalkeeping.

Amy Gallacher (Celtic): Scored two goals to help Celtic to a convincing win that put them top of the table.

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Montrose manager Craig Feroz: "Both teams were pretty poor, but the goal is the killer. We never recovered from that.

"We're used to playing under pressure and being underdogs. Today was pretty equal, but we could have played all day and it wouldn't have happened for us.

"The gap in the finances is miles apart but I was expecting a win today. There was nothing in the game, but that's football."

Aberdeen boss Scott Booth: "We knew we had two really tough fixtures to start the season. We started really well last week and that gave us the base to perform.

"You know playing against Montrose how much hard work you're going to have to put in.

"It will be very difficult to get into a run of wins in this league this season."

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Rangers head coach Leanne Crichton: "First and foremost really pleased with the three points. I think in the league this season it is super competitive and we know how difficult sides like Motherwell are going to be.

"In terms of their recruitment and how they have strengthened and the level of respect that we have got for them. Hats off to them in terms of their application in the game and for us it is three points.

"We had to dig in and it was the type of performance towards the end that you don't necessarily want to see but the reality it is three points and you have got to manage the game and see it out and ultimately that is what we managed to do."

Motherwell manager Paul Brownlie: "They gave us everything. It was important we responded after last week. Our work ethic from start to finish was excellent.

"We knew we would have to spend parts of the game without the ball. Tactically, our shape was good. Could we show character with the ball? We did that.

"As a squad now, we grow. A huge game next Sunday so the attention has to turn to that."

Image source, Malcolm Mackenzie/SWPL

Hamilton Accies manager Robert Watson: "I think Hearts weren't really sure how to break us down at times.

"We worked really, really hard and that's a testament to part time players. We get them for six or seven hours a week training wise and they're able to deliver a performance like that.

"We put the plan together but the players are delivering it at the moment."

Hearts boss Eva Olid: "I was frustrated for 90 minutes. I cannot understand how we come from the performance at Ibrox to the performance today [Sunday].

"If you are not focused and concentrated you can drop points against anyone. I think the level of concentration wasn't right.

"I think the performance is so important. I hope we can get a reaction because it wasn't good enough [on Sunday]".

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Celtic manager Elena Sadiku: "We want to see progress every week and certainly we saw progress today [Sunday]. We were totally dominant, they didn't create anything. I am very pleased with the steps we took.

"Partick Thistle are not a bad team, they tried to stay compact and defend the goal but the girls stayed patient. I'm really proud.

"It's not only about big wins but how we play and act and deal with the game. We're showing progress and that's the most important thing."

Partick Thistle boss David Elliot: "We started well, we controlled the game at times, we forced them back and into positions they didn't want to be in.

"Then we lost a goal and it all crumbled thereafter. That's something we maybe need to work on.

"The players want to work for this football club, they're giving so much effort. They'll go away, learn from it and work hard during the week and hopefully improve for next week."

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

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Montrose and Aberdeen face off on Sunday both vying for three points which could prove vital come the end of the season.

The pair avoided the three-team relegation last season, with Montrose securing their safety on the final day of the league campaign and their quest for SWPL safety has started anew.

It's been a tricky start for Scott Booth's Aberdeen side who have lost both of their opening games, albeit they limited last season's runners-up Glasgow City to a narrow 1-0 victory last weekend.

The Dons are likely to have goalkeeper Katie Cox, on loan from treble winners Chelsea, between the sticks at the weekend and she'll be keen to impress.

After a tough 6-1 defeat on the opening day, Craig Feroz's side bounced back with a convincing 4-1 victory over top-six hopefuls Motherwell last weekend which moved Montrose up to fifth.

Keep an eye on summer signing Kaela McDonald-Nguah who scored a brace last weekend and set up Montrose's only goal against Rangers the previous week.

A win for the Links Park club would keep them in the top half of the table while a win for the Dons would get them on the board.

How to follow on BBC

Rangers v Motherwell will be live on the BBC Sport Scotland website and app where you will also find match reports from all five matches.

Sportscene SWPL highlights will be on the BBC Scotland on Monday night at 19:30 BST.

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Kathleen McGovern's hat-trick ensured that Hibernian overcame Apollon Limassol in Cyprus to progress to the first round of qualifying for the inaugural Uefa Women's Europa Cup.

They join Glasgow City in qualifying, with the first legs played on 10/11 September and the second legs a week later.

The new competition represents the second tier of European competition in women's football and, after two rounds of qualifying, will take the format of a straight knock-out with a home and away leg.

After exiting Champions League qualifying due to the 2-1 loss to Fortuna Hjorring earlier in the week, Hibs went through thanks to new Scotland cap McGovern, who scored a stunning strike from distance and then nodded in two headers.

Glasgow City, meanwhile, dropped into Women's Europa Cup qualifying after their 2-0 loss to Austria Vienna.

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American centre-back Grace Courter has completed a "dream" move to Celtic on a two-year deal.

The 22-year-old arrives from Boston College in the US NCAA Division One where she played alongside recent Celtic signing Aislin Streicek.

"It feels amazing to have signed for Celtic and I just can't wait to get started," said Courter.

"The girls have been super welcoming. I'm just really excited to be fully immersed in the Celtic community as a whole.

"It's been a dream for a few years now, and I can't wait to show everybody what I've got."

Head coach Elena Sadiku said "commanding" defender Courter will bring "real composure to our backline".

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Glasgow City head coach Leanne Ross: "We've come here, in terms of preparation, I thought we were absolutely spot on in terms of what we saw from our opponent and what we expected.

"We've gone in, carried out the game plan really well, been defensively solid in the first half and then second half looked to step higher and come and really take the game to them.

"But in saying that, we're playing against a difficult opponent.

"The goals that we've lost, they're the most disappointing aspect in terms of the nature of them.

"But a spirited performance and a lot of positives that we can take now going forward.

"The players are hurt, the staff are hurting right now in terms of the preparation that we put in and what we saw from the team tonight.

"So I guess in time that will feel like a positive that we still have European football, but I think in terms of what we've given out there tonight, we wanted a lot more."

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Glasgow City will drop into the Europa Cup competition after their Champions League qualification dream ended with a 2-0 defeat against Austria Wien.

An early second-half free-kick from Katharina Schietchtl put the Austrian side ahead, before Maria Olsen added a second in injury time.

Wien struck the crossbar as the first half drew to a close through Lena Triendl after Nicole Kozlova couldn't be found with a cross from Lisa Forrest in a venture forward for City.

Leanne Ross' side now enter the first qualifying round of the newly-created Europa Cup and will find out their opponents when the draw takes place at noon on Sunday, 31 August.