Scottish Women's Football

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

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Hearts manager Eva Olid insists her side have "nothing to lose" when they come up against favourites Rangers in Sunday's Scottish Cup final.

The Edinburgh outfit have lost four of the five previous meetings this season, but claimed a first-ever victory over Rangers last month with a 1-0 win that dealt to a costly blow to the Ibrox side's title bid.

"The most important thing is to enjoy it," said Olid.

"We know we don’t have the pressure to win the game, just being there is amazing.

"We have nothing to lose and I think we cannot lose the enjoyment because we are putting a pressure on ourselves that’s not there.

"It’s always difficult against the top three but the fact that we’ve beaten them this season helps a lot to help the team believe.

"If we had never won against them it would be difficult because they have a lot of experience, a lot of Rangers players have already played a final and of course in this scenario everything is in their favour."

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Rangers manager Jo Potter has been speaking to the media ahead of Sunday's Scottish Cup final against Hearts.

Here are the key points:

• Potter says she wants her players to feel the disappointment of losing the league last Sunday and use it as fuel for the cup final to avoid that sort of feeling again.

• She's glad Rangers have the chance to end the season on a high after missing out on the league title but knows how different their season will look if they lose on Sunday.

• Potter says the pressure of a final at Hampden can be "overwhelming" for teams and is urging her players to draw on their experience from the SWPL Cup triumph earlier this season.

• She wants her player to keep pushing the club forward with the potential to make history on Sunday by lifting Rangers' first Scottish Cup.

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Hearts manager Eva Olid has been speaking to the media before the club's first ever cup final against Rangers on Sunday.

Here are the main points:

• Although Hearts have achieved one of their season's objectives by getting to the final, Olid insists they aren't just there to play and are targeting victory.

• She is desperate for her players to enjoy the game, particularly because all the pressure is on Rangers.

• Hearts "have nothing to lose" and that should encourage them to have fun.

• The fact Hearts have beaten Rangers already this season gives the players extra belief they can win at the weekend.

• Olid adds that "football is crazy" and anything can happen on the day.

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Rio Hardy and Kirsty Howat have become the latest players to commit their future to Rangers.

The forward duo have signed two-year contract extensions with the Glasgow club after playing an important role this season.

They've netted 60 goals between them this term and have struck up an impressive partnership under Jo Potter.

“I have supported the club all my life and I have some great memories already and I wanted to add to that," Howat said.

“This is the best team I have been involved in and the coaching staff are amazing, so I am excited to be staying.

“The minute the club spoke to me, it was an easy ‘yes’ - I love the club, I love the environment we work in and it allows us to excel."

Hardy added: “I’m delighted to commit my future to Rangers and it was an easy decision for me.

“The club is going in a good direction and I am excited to be a part of it.

“We have qualified for the Champions League and that’s a tournament I strived to play in again and I hope to go further this time."

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

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Suzy Shepherd is hoping renewed confidence will help her Dundee United side in Thursday night's SWPL play-off.

United finished second bottom in the top flight, meaning they face a one-off game against SWPL2 runners-up Kilmarnock at the Falkirk Stadium.

After a run of 15 successive league defeats, United dodged automatic relegation by picking up a win and two draws in their final five fixtures.

Shepherd, who replaced Graeme Hart as head coach on 1 March, said: "Ever since I've come in my aim was to try and just pick them up.

"The confidence was really low. They were having a really challenging season, individually and collectively. So confidence was kind of at rock bottom.

"It was just trying to change that mindset, let them realise that they don't become bad players overnight because your confidence goes when you're on a run or defeats.

"So it was more getting the belief back, getting the confidence up and picking up the points was crucial because it gave us the confidence boost that we needed."

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

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Kilmarnock manager Jim Chapman is dreaming of a play-off upset when his side take on Dundee United for a place in the top flight.

The sides face off at the Falkirk Stadium on Thursday after Killie finished second in SWPL2 and United finished 11th in SWPL1.

"I'm a dreamer but I'm also a realist," Chapman said.

"I've been in the game long enough to understand how quickly things can change even within 90 minutes, let alone over a season.

"Dundee United are overwhelming favourites, and rightly so. We've seen the gap and it is challenging for any of us.

"So people might expect United to win but we need to make sure that the girls understand that they're not there to make up numbers.

"To me pressure is all about pride in your performance and I say that to the girls - they have every right to expect to be the best we can be, that's all I ask."

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Rangers have announced contract extensions for Brogan Hay, Lizzie Arnot and Kathryn Hill.

Hill and Arnot's deals are both for two seasons, while Hay has signed a three-year deal.

The trio have been key players this season for Jo Potter's side, who won the SWPL Cup and are preparing for Sunday's Scottish Cup final against Hearts.

"It is vital we keep hold of the players who have been pivotal to our success this season," manager Jo Potter said.

"For any club you need stability and not having to make wholesale changes every summer. But the most important thing for me is Lizzie and Brogan have the right character to play for this football club as well as the quality.

"Kathy has been a mainstay for me and I am thrilled she will continue to be for the foreseeable future.

"Both on and off the park she has been a hugely influential member of the squad and an important part of the leadership group."

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A 25-goal league haul. A title-winning strike. A Scotland debut.

It's been a truly memorable season for Amy Gallacher, whose dramatic last-gasp winner against Hibs on Sunday delivered Celtic's historic first league title and left Rangers devastated.

Gallacher, 25, has made an indelible impact in Celtic's triumph and her importance was illustrated in an ebullient Celtic dressing room as her team-mates celebrated the title and serenarded the forward with chants of "We all dream of a team of Amy G's".

Now Leanne Crichton - a serial title winner with Glasgow City turned Motherwell coach - has joined in the praise.

"Celtic have won the league on goal difference," Crichton told the BBC's Behind the Goals podcast.

"The goal that Amy scored on Sunday was vitally important as they have been throughout the season.

"Amy's contributions have been exceptional, she's got an international call-up and I would say it's been the best season of her career.

"The fact that she's got the icing on the cake with the league title and I think it would be hard to argue against her being player of the season."

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Former Scotland midfielder Leanne Crichton says "the league table never lies" after Rangers head coach Jo Potter claimed her side were the best in the SWPL despite finishing second to Celtic.

Celtic clinched their first league title on Sunday, ending the season joint on points with Rangers but with a significantly better goal difference.

"Whether you finish at the top end or the bottom end of the table, I don't think the league table ever lies," Crichton said on the BBC's Behind the Goals podcast.

"Where you end up is exactly where you're supposed to be. It's reflective of the results over the course of a season regardless of how disappointing it can be.

"I know it's come down to goal difference, it's really tough.

"There's so many if, buts and maybes at the end of a season but I don't think you can ever take away from the team that finished top of the pile."

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Rangers captain Nicola Docherty says there is "no place I would rather be" after signing a two-year contract extension to stay with the club until summer 2026.

The Scotland defender, 31, was part of the side that clinched Rangers' first league title two years ago and she lifted her first trophy as captain in this season's SWPL Cup triumph.

Docherty, who had a season with the Ibrox club in 2010 before returning from Glasgow City in 2020, said: "I am absolutely delighted to extend my time with Rangers.

"It is a club that I have loved since I was a child, so to be extending here is a huge honour for myself and my family.

"There is no place I would rather be because I have loved my time here since I rejoined, so I am thrilled to get that over the line.

“Jo [Potter] played a big part in me staying, ever since she has walked through the door she been great."

Head coach Potter, who appointed Docherty as captain last summer, says she has "more than surpassed my expectations on and off the park".

Potter added: "She is a real leader for the group. She has played almost every minute under me and that shows how highly I rate her.”

Rachel Corsie and Leanna Crichton discuss Celtic's historic title win, Jo Potter's claim that Rangers are still the best in the league and they look ahead to Sunday's Scottish Cup final between Rangers and Hearts.

Listen and subscribe to Behind the Goals here

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Gutted midfielder Tessel Middag says Rangers threw away the league title.

Despite the Ibrox side beating Partick Thistle 4-0 on Sunday, Celtic edged out Hibs 1-0 to finish top on goal difference.

Rangers led the way for much of the season and dropped just two points in their opening 19 games, but two defeats and three draws in the following 13 fixtures ultimately proved costly.

"The emotions going into the game were quite different but we tried to just focus on winning the game," Middag told RangersTV, external.

"I can't really fault anyone's effort in the game. I think in any other league if you lost two games it would be enough to win.

"It's really gutting and heartbreaking to not win the league this year. I felt like we had a really good campaign, we were off to a flying start, we were very far ahead at points.

"It feels like we gave it away rather than Celtic winning it, that's the mood in the group."

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Hibs captain Joelle Murray is looking ahead to a new chapter as a coach after playing the final game of her career.

The 37-year-old defender has decided to hang up her boots after over 20 years at the Edinburgh club.

A 90th-minute winner from Amy Gallacher was the only thing that separated the sides on the final day as Hibs suffered a narrow defeat at Parkhead and Celtic secured their first title in dramatic circumstances.

"The girls left absolutely everything on the park," Murray said.

"Celtic ultimately upheld their pressure and deserved it in the second half.

"It's very emotional, quite surreal. It probably won't hit me until tomorrow.

"If I stepped away from football completely it would leave a massive void in my life. The next chapter will be a coaching one, I'll be the one telling the girls what to do."

Kelsey Daughtery (Celtic): Kept a clean sheet with crucial saves on the most important day of the season for Celtic.

Joelle Murray (Hibs): Final appearance for Hibs and was named player of the match for her composed performance. A true legend of the club.

Jo Addie (Motherwell): An accomplished performance and a huge factor in Motherwell going 11 league games unbeaten.

Tess Middag (Rangers): Strolled through the match and got on the scoresheet with a lovely left-footed finish.

Celya Barclais (Celtic): A constant threat down the right for Celtic and defended well when called upon.

Lucy Ashworth-Clifford (Celtic): Kept going forward throughout the 90 minutes and looked assured at the back.

Jade McLaren (Montrose): One of the main reasons for Montrose's good performances and she finished the season with a goal.

Alana Marshall (Spartans): A solid performance as she made her final appearance before retiring from football - a legend for Spartans with 262 appearances.

Carlee Giammona (Glasgow City): She created numerous chances with her powerful running from midfield, and scored the opener.

Amy Gallacher (Celtic): Incredible composure to slot home the title-winning goal for Celtic - her 25th of the season.

Kirsty Howat (Rangers): Two goals for the Rangers striker, who looks to be back to her clinical best.

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at Celtic Park

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If it wasn't for former team-mate Amy Gallacher creating history on Sunday, Joelle Murray probably would have picked up player of the match in her final game for Hibernian.

The skipper skelped every ball that came her way away and ensured every team-mate heard their name belted out by her one final time.

It was the kind of performance that left you pondering, 'surely she has another season in her?'.

But the titan of the game is bowing out at the top where she has spent the majority of her career.

Two league titles, seven Scottish Cups and five league cups. The mantlepiece is packed.

And while the silverware is significant and special, it's the impact and influence Murray has had across the Scottish game that will be remembered most.

Closing the curtain on her career at Celtic Park would not have been dreamed of even a matter of years ago, never mind when the beady-eyed, Hibs-daft defender broke through over two decades ago.

From running out in front of one man and his dog, to leading sides out at Easter Road, Tynecastle and Celtic Park, Murray has played a part in the league hitting every milestone it has.

It's always been about the bigger picture for the former Scotland international. The guard of honour from her opponents and the standing ovation from the home fans showed the legacy the 37-year-old is leaving behind.

If you think the feet will be flung up and a flower shop opened with the many bouquets she's been presented with in recent weeks, you've learned nothing about the person beyond the player over the years.

She will continue in her role within Hibs' academy while taking up a position in Grant Scott's coaching staff. But if there's any spare time, becoming a florist may not be the worst idea...

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at Celtic Park

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It just had to be Amy G.

The girl from Dundee has had the season of her life and blossomed into a big-time player for a big-game club.

Perhaps fittingly, her most magical moment to date - and it'll be hard to beat - came against the side she learned and developed with, before earning her move to the east end of Glasgow.

A place she'll continue to call home after signing a new three-year-deal last month. Business that perhaps went under the radar, but one that now will no doubt bring about a collective sigh of relief for all those at Celtic.

Of her 25 league goals this season, none have sparked scenes like those that ensued when her determination in the box ended with the ball in the back of the net.

A goal which etched her name into the history books at the club. If you flick back enough pages, you'll find her great-grandfather's name too.

Patsy Gallacher won 14 trophies in 14 years at the club, while his great-granddaughter is now two from two after last season's Scottish Cup.

The 25-year-old will need to stick around for a few seasons yet to match that tally, but if she continues to produce numbers like she has this term - 50 goal involvements in all competitions - she might just continue to write her own script of success at the club.

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Glasgow City manager Leanne Ross:

"I thought we started on the front foot, played some nice football and got two nice early goals that we deserved.

"All credit to Hearts, they made it difficult for us and we had to change shape in the second half to get a foothold on the game and see it out.

"We wanted to finish the season off positively with a good result. We're disappointed we weren't in the title race but we'll go away and review that and come back stronger next season."

Hearts manager Eva Olid:

"I think we had a good performance but we switched off for a few minutes and Glasgow City scored.

"It was a competitive game, both teams had clear opportunities we were just unlucky in those few minutes.

"We were just not clinical. I think in the second half we were much better, more aggressive we just couldn't get the goal."