Scottish Women's Football

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Partick Thistle manager Brian Graham: "I'm delighted with the three points, I felt my team were really good.

"I thought we should have scored more goals but overall I'm pleased to get the three points.

"It was good to get back to winning ways, I'm disappointed with the late goal but we won't dwell too much on it."

Dundee United manager Suzy Shepherd: "Another disappointing day.

"We know Partick Thistle are a very good team, they're fighting to get into the top six.

"For large spells of the game we let ourselves down, we need to do the basics better and do things much quicker."

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Spartans manager Jack Beesley: "Rangers dominated possession, we tried to be organised and disciplined and I thought in the first half we restricted them.

"We showed some nice moments in terms of our own counter-attacking. The red card comes and momentum changes and it becomes very hard after that."

Rangers manager Jo Potter: "I thought it was below par, it was below the standards for our levels.

"I thought our subs lifted the tempo slightly but the main thing today was three points and a clean sheet and that's what we did.

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Midfielder Signe Carstens has left Celtic just seven months after joining from head coach Elena Sadiku's former club Fortuna Hjorring.

The 22-year-old signed a two-year deal back in June alongside her twin sister Mathilde Carstens.

Signe Carstens made nine appearances during her seven months at Celtic and scored one goal.

Her sister Mathilde remains a Celtic player.

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

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Although Hibernian hosting Glasgow City is also a tasty encounter, we've gone for the weekend's postponed game - Celtic against Hearts.

Originally scheduled for Friday night, but delayed due to Storm Eowyn, Elena Sadiku's side now host Hearts on Sunday night in a game that will be broadcast live on the BBC Sport website and iPlayer (19:45 GMT).

Celtic will be out for revenge after the last game, a 1-0 loss at the Oriam, in which Hearts inflicted Celtic's first loss of the campaign.

That game also proved to be historic as it was the first time Hearts had ever beaten Celtic, thanks to Kayla Jardine's deflected first-half strike.

Not many would have predicted that three months on, the sides would sit level on points in the SWPL table - albeit Celtic have a game in hand.

A win would boost Celtic up to 44 points but at time of writing, they trail league leaders Glasgow City by six points.

They'll have to try and do so without Caitlin Hayes, as the talismanic centre-half tearfully departed to Brighton through the week.

The pink-headbanded Ireland international was an iconic figure at the club and it was no coincidence that the club's first SWPL title came during her time there.

However with Hayes' departure imminent, Sadiku has changed up formations in recent weeks, switching to four at the back in preparation at losing one of her defenders.

That might force Hearts into a change of shape themselves, if they want to match Celtic up. Eva Olid has been rigid in her three at the back formation so far.

Another win for Hearts would see them solidify their credentials as title-chasers, while any hopes Celtic have of retaining their title would be severely damaged by a third loss of the season.

The game also may see a return for Abi Harrison, the Scotland striker who has come back to Scotland after years playing down south. She has joined Sadiku's side from Bristol City until the end of the season and adds to Celtic's potent attack.

How to follow the action on BBC

Celtic v Hearts and will be shown on the BBC Sport website and iPlayer, with the match kicking off at 19:45 GMT.

There will be live text coverage of all six Sunday games from 13:00 on the BBC Sport website and app.

And on Monday night, watch all the goals and best of the weekend SWPL action on Sportscene at 19:00 on BBC Scotland.

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The SWPL Cup final between Hibs and Rangers will be played at Fir Park on Saturday, 22 March with a 15:00 GMT kick-off.

Holders Rangers are aiming to win the trophy for the third successive year while Hibs' last triumph in the competition came in 2019.

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Celtic v Hearts in the SWPL has been rearranged for Sunday, 26 January and will be shown on the BBC Sport website and iPlayer.

The match kicks off at 19:45 GMT.

Originally scheduled for Friday, the game was postponed on account of the red weather warning in place across Scotland.

Reigning champions Celtic are below fourth-placed Hearts on goal difference but Elena Sadiku's side have a game in hand.

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Scotland striker Abi Harrison has returned to Celtic on a deal until the end of the season after leaving Bristol City.

The Celtic academy graduate made her debut for the club at age 14 in 2011, becoming the youngest player ever in the SWPL.

Harrison joined Hibs in 2015, winning the 2016 Scottish Cup and three SWPL Cups in a four-year spell, then moved to Bristol City where she went on to become the club's record scorer with 40 goals in 128 appearances.

"I'm absolutely delighted to be back at Celtic and can't wait to get going again," Harrison said.

"It is a bit of a full circle fairytale for me. I made no illusions when I left the club as a 17-year-old that it was my dream to play for them again one day.

"As soon as I signed for Bristol, I said the only club that I would leave Bristol for was Celtic."

Head coach Elena Sadiku added: "We're very excited to bring Abi into our squad. She has great experience in both the Women's Super League and the Championship."

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The SWPL game between Celtic and Hearts on Friday night has been postponed because of the red weather warning in place across Scotland.

Elena Sadiku's side were due to host Hearts at New Douglas Park at 19:30 GMT.

The SWPL say details of the rearranged fixture will be confirmed in due course.

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Caitlin Hayes says playing for Celtic was "one of the greatest honours of my life" after sealing a move from the SWPL champions to Brighton.

The Republic of Ireland defender departs having made 153 Celtic appearances and won one league title and four domestic cups in her four-and-a-half-year spell.

"It has been nothing short of one of the greatest honours of my life to wear the green and white," said 29-year-old Hayes.

"My nine-year-old self would never have believed that her wildest dreams would become her reality. But I guess, after all, I was just a girl with a dream and a fan that got lucky.

"I wish nothing but success for everyone involved with Celtic. Once a Celt, always a Celt."

Head-coach Elena Sadiku praised Hayes' contribution, saying: "I want to thank Caitlin for everything she has done for the club,.

"Especially since I have come to Glasgow, she has been very important for the team on the pitch. She has been a great character."

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Hearts have signed Galway United midfielder Jenna Slattery on a deal until summer 2026.

Slattery, 20, was top scorer in the League of Ireland last season with 10 goals and has been capped 11 times for Republic of Ireland at Under-19 level.

Although currently sidelined with injury, the midfielder joins Eva Olid's side on an initial 18-month deal that includes the option for a 12-month extension.

"The proper feeling hasn't really sunk in yet," Slattery said.

"I've finally made this big move that I've always dreamt of as a young girl. To be here right now it's a pretty surreal moment."

Manager Olid added: "We're delighted to welcome a player of Jenna's quality to the club so early in the window.

"This was a position that we were keen to strengthen after what's been a positive start to the season."

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Former Scotland international Leanne Crichton says the "pressure is on" the international squad following the appointment of Michael McArdle as interim head coach.

The women's national team are in search for a permanent successor to Pedro Marintez Losa after he left his role last month following Scotland's failure to qualify for Euro 2025, in addition to missing out on the 2023 World Cup.

Former Ayr United assistant McArdle is the head of women's elite football for the SFA and will take charge of the upcoming Nations League games next month.

"Whatever this next appointment looks like, we have to get it right," Crichton told the BBC's Behind the Goals podcast.

"If it takes a bit longer to go through the process - if it ends up back at Mick and he does really well - the pressure is on the group to show the signs that we can really move forward. Whether that has an element of transition or not, he's going to have to steer that.

"The only thing I'm interested in is how he manages his workload. He's the busiest guy on the planet, doing a brilliant job in his current role at the Scottish FA. I'm looking forward to the next international window and seeing how it pans out."

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The SWPL is "disrespected" and "deserves a lot more recognition", says Celtic captain Kelly Clark.

The defender expressed her displeasure at the way the league is perceived in the wake of the news team-mate Caitlin Hayes is set to join WSL side Brighton this month.

Clark feels the imminent move shows "how much we can put people on a platform" at Celtic, "very much like what the men's team has done".

The defender thinks the SWPL has "been of a quality a lot of people don't accept" and referenced Hibernian and Hearts' impressive seasons this term as evidence that the league is strong.

"I think the league's disrespected, it really winds me up," Clark said.

"I do think the league deserves a lot more recognition than it gets. People need to take note because I really do think there's a lot of talent in Scotland.

"There are a lot of girls who have played football for nothing for years and years and years and care about football. It's not just a job. It's not just a tick box. It's a passion."

She added: "Anybody who's looking for players that aren't going to cost you an arm and a leg, because we're playing in a league that's still not fully professional, they should be looking here.

"They should be looking at Rangers, they should be looking at City, Aberdeen. All these teams in this league have players that I think can play elsewhere. We're good enough. Hearts, Hibs, the lot.

"Hopefully the [transfer] rumours continue, not just for us, but for everybody, because it shows that the league's improving. We've got quality here that can go elsewhere."