Scottish Women's Football

Another dramatic SWPL card draws to a close and what an evening it was.

City secured that late victory over Hearts while Rangers put nine past Queen's Park.

Hibs have moved themselves into the top three with another big win.

What did you make of the midweek action? Are you happy with your team's performance?

Thistle fans, what do you make of the news that your game against City on Sunday is being moved from Kirkintilloch?

If you've got something to say, we want to hear it!

Give us your thoughts here, external.

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Dundee United have signed Sophie Timlin on loan from Glasgow City.

The defender made her senior debut for the Glasgow club last year having worked her way through the ranks at Parkhead.

"I’m looking forward to working with Sophie this year," boss Suzy Shepherd told club media, external.

"She is a player that can play a few positions, she’s confident on the ball going forward while also showing defensive attributes that can help the team."

The right-back could make her debut against Hibs this evening.

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Partick Thistle say they are "disappointed" Sunday's game against Glasgow City has been moved to Kirkintilloch.

The fixture was originally due to be played at Lochburn Park in Maryhill while works at Petershill Park, both sides' home ground, continues.

A statement from the club reads: "This decision follows an objection by Sunday’s visiting team and despite the league originally having visited and inspected Lochburn Park and approved it for use and an opening day match against Hibernian going without any issues, with no concerns raised by or to the match officials or to Partick Thistle on the day, the original approval has been reversed.

"This decision will also apply to any other home matches while our home, Petershill Park, is having improvement works carried out, an issue which also affects Petershill tenants and Sunday's away side, Glasgow City.

"As a club we’re incredibly disappointed at the decision, which will cause massive operational challenges and create extra work for an already stretched and hard working team of volunteers at the club.

"However, most of all we are disappointed for our loyal fans who will be forced to travel further to another different stadium at extremely short notice, at a time where we are trying to grow the crowds and game in Scotland."

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Celtic take on Motherwell on Wednesday night as both sides look to continue their unbeaten start to the season.

The match (19:20 BST kick-off) is live on BBC Alba and the BBC Sport website and app with a 19:10 start.

Plus we'll keep you across all Wednesday night's action, with live text coverage of the full six-game card on the BBC Sport website and app.

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Can Aberdeen begin life without Colin Bell by picking up their first points of the season on Wednesday night?

With Bell having stepped down for personal reasons after just two games in charge - heavy defeats by Rangers and Hibs - the Dons are now led by interim boss Stuart Glennie when they host a Montrose side who have also opened with back-to-back losses.

In terms of head to head, Aberdeen are undefeated in their last four meetings against Montrose.

"The home games are always important with your own crowd behind you," Thomson told club media, external.

"Our aim is to get as many points as we can at home and show our home fans what we are about.

"Montrose is a game we are always excited for. They are the team closest to us, they have become our rivals, so it is always a battle.

"They are a good team, but last season we showed we can take points off them. As I said, it is always a battle, they are a physical team, but we know if we play our football, we can get the win."

Image source, Colin Poultney/SWPL

Grant Scott says there's "no easy games" as his Hibs side prepare to face Dundee United.

United narrowly escaped relegation last season by beating Kilmarnock in the play-off and opened the new campaign with a 9-0 defeat at Celtic.

Hibs have both their matches so far, scoring nine goals in the process, but Scott knows the challenge Wednesday night's contest could throw up.

"We can look back 12 months when I think we played Dundee United similarly midweek in our third match and we drew 0-0," he said.

"So we've got that as a reminder that despite what you might think and their position in the league, how many goals they score or lose, whether they're a young team or a newly promoted team, there's no bearing on it.

"You genuinely have to look after yourself and try and knock over what's in front of you as best you can.

"There's no easy ones at all."

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Eva Olid is urging her Hearts players to "believe" they can beat Glasgow City on Wednesday night.

The Edinburgh side are currently top of the league on goal difference after wins against Queen's Park and Spartans.

Olid thinks her side could benefit from facing City, a traditional top three side, this early in the season.

The Hearts boss told club media, external. "It’s only the third game, you have to play every team at some point, but sometimes it’s better to play the top three early as they have a lot of new players, like us."

"It is also important the players believe. The technical staff can be positive and have belief, but if the players don't believe then it's not going to happen.

"They're the ones on the pitch, they have to believe, and I know they do."

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Elena Sadiku is demanding an improved Celtic performance against Motherwell on Wednesday night despite opening the season with back-to-back wins.

The defending champions edged out Glasgow City 1-0 on Sunday thanks to Chloe Craig's second-half penalty, but the head coach and her squad still ended up frustrated.

"Hopefully we go into this one even more hungry because, yes, we did win the game but we were not very happy with the performance," Sadiku told club media, external.

"I know the girls were not happy with the performance and that's something we need to bounce back from.

"Hopefully we can put in a good performance and get the win.

"It's no secret how much I love the fans and I think that's something I look forward to every game, showing up, trying to win and make our fans happy because they deserve the best and we just need to try and do it every time we show up."

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After Sunday's narrow defeat to Celtic, things don't get any easier for Glasgow City with a visit from early table-toppers Hearts on Wednesday night.

Last season Eva Olid's side finished fourth, 19 points behind City in third, and are hoping to go one better this time.

Wednesday night is the first meeting between the sides this season and the first chance for Olid to see how her new-look team matches up to one of the 'big three'

"I think it will be interesting to see how Hearts do because it'll be their biggest test," Scotland captain Rachel Corsie told the BBC's Behind the Goals podcast.

"City will be looking to bounce back, they have a point to prove and I think they'll be feeling a bit down about the weekend.

"I know when you go through that experience the best thing is a midweek game so they'll be right up for it."

Leanne Crichton and Scotland captain Rachel Corsie discuss the comments of Partick Thistle boss Brian Graham, who said "I just don't think we get that in the men's game" after midfielder Courtney Stewart waited three hours for an ambulance following the head injury she sustained against Rangers.

Listen and subscribe to the Behind The Goals podcast on BBC Sounds

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SWPL/Colin Poultney

In a surprising turn of events, Aberdeen are managerless just two games into the new season following Colin Bell's abrupt exit.

Bell, the former Leicester player and South Korea Women's team manager who had led Eintracht Frankfurt to the 2015 Women's Champions League final, took the job in the summer after Clinton Lancaster returned south having secured the club's SWPL safety with a seventh-place finish.

Bell's arrival was a major coup for the north east club. But the Dons were shorn of three of their best players - last season's SWPL top goalscorer Bayley Hutchison, midfielder Eilidh Shore and defender Jess Broadrick - who all joined Hearts. Hutichson, and her goals, in particular are a major loss.

Bell brought in new signings, ex-Liverpool midfielder Holly McEvoy and former Glasgow City and Leicester youth winger Miriam MacLean among them, but they do not look to be of the same calibre as the departed trio and the Dons' start to the season has been a nightmare.

The 11-0 opening defeat to Rangers was followed by a 7-0 loss to Hibs on Saturday and Aberdeen now are without a manager once again, with Bell departing because of "personal reasons".

In a season where three teams will be relegated, getting the next appointment right is more crucial than ever.

Stuart Glennie, who is youth academy director, will lead an interim coaching team and oversee Wednesday's match at home to Montrose.

With the Dons boasting a youthful squad, could he be the ideal man to take the reins for the rest of the season?

Or would looking for someone with experience in the Scottish top flight be the best next step for the club?

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Colin Bell has stepped down as Aberdeen Women manager for "personal reasons" after two games in charge, the club have confirmed.

Stuart Glennie, who is youth academy director, will lead an interim coaching team and oversee Wednesday's match at home to Montrose.

Aberdeen lost their SWPL opener 11-0 at home to last season's runners-up Rangers and followed that up with Sunday's 7-0 loss at Hibernian.

Former South Korea women's boss Bell was appointed in June. The ex-Leicester City player managed FFC Frankfurt to the Champions League title in 2015.

Aberdeen said in a statement: "The process to find a permanent successor is already under way and a further update will be provided in due course.

"The club would like to thank Colin for his hard work over the summer and wish him well in the future."

We asked you for your thoughts on the second weekend of SWPL action.

Here's what you had to say:

Richard: Another good win for Hearts. To score five in such a compact box was impressive. Spartans were very well organised and determined not to give anything away cheaply. The new recruits are settling in nicely. City on Wednesday will be the real yardstick of improvement for Eva's side.

City played very well against Celtic and were unlucky not to get anything from the game. Cracker in store!

David: Great to see Hearts make such a positive start to the season with the new players seeming to have settled in quickly. Big test v Glasgow City on Wednesday - fingers crossed for a good result.

Celtic head coach Elena Sadiku: "I'm delighted with the three points, but not the performance.

"But even by not playing as good as we can, having the fighting spirit to not concede is what it's all about.

"It's about playing the ball faster, trying to create an overload and being braver on the ball. I just felt we weren't really there."

Glasgow City head coach Leanne Ross: "I'm disappointed, I thought we came and took the game to Celtic in the first half. We played the way we wanted to play and created chances but unfortunately we just didn't take them today and we've been punished by that.

"We need to be better in front of goal and make sure we take them and get the game finished off."

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Motherwell head coach Paul Brownlie: "I'm delighted to win the game. Performance wise, it wasn't like us in spells.

"Our 3-0 lead at half-time was deserved, in the second half, I don't think we looked ourselves, but the win puts us in a good a place.

Montrose manager Craig Feroz: "It's a difficult one to assess. In the first 20 minutes we had two really good chances, then Motherwell hit us with three goals and we're in a bit of disarray.

"But, I thought we were excellent second half and could have got a point.

"The two quickfire goals gives us confidence for midweek, 100%. The second half has buoyed us a wee bit and we'll be ready for Wednesday."

Rangers head coach Jo Potter: "I was really impressed and pleased with the performance. It's difficult when you get an injury like that after a short time as it can make the game a bit bit-bob-like, but the players did well to get back into it.

"We've got a couple of good league games under our belt before we do go into a tricky Champions League group but we're looking forward to, we want to test yourselves because we've got the squad to do it."

Partick Thistle manager Brian Graham: "We tried something new this week by going 4-3-2-1 to try and force Rangers down the wide areas but Rangers changed shape and it caused problems.

"3-0 at half-time, you're worrying. Going 4-5-1 we frustrated them. My players deserve credit because that could have been anything today, but it just shows you the gap between the top three and the rest - they're miles away.

"Maybe I'm just mad because I think we can get a result against these top three sides, but until my players start believing it, it's not gonna happen."

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Hibernian head coach Grant Scott: "Overall it was a good performance, we certainly improved our efforts in the second half getting a few additional goals, but I also felt we moved the ball much better.

"I hope the couple of wins we've got in the first two games gives us confidence and a bit of belief in the group for what we're doing."

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Hearts manager Eva Olid: "I'm happy. We missed a lot of opportunities that we had to score, but I cannot complain!

"The most important thing for me was we were dominating with the ball and totally controlling the game.

"It's always difficult against Spartans but we are always so motivated."

Spartans head coach Jack Beesley: "I'm disappointed with the outcome with it being a 5-0.

"We knew Hearts would have loads of the ball but we tried to be resolute and frustrate them. For the most part, we did that so that the overriding emotions are disappointment and frustration.

"Hearts dominated the game and thoroughly deserved to win, but from our perspective we felt like we did quite a disciplined job but we've probably just let ourselves down with the nature of goals we've conceded."