Celtic and Rangers stars dominate SWPL TOTWpublished at 15:25 13 May
15:25 13 May
Jane Lewis BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Victoria Esson (Rangers) - Made some crucial saves to prevent Glasgow City from scoring. Rangers badly needed the three points this weekend, and Esson more than played her part in helping her side to secure them.
Rachel McLauchlan (Rangers) - Scored a brilliant and a timely goal for Rangers, who at that time were on the backfoot, and needed something to get them into the match.
Robyn McCafferty (Spartans) - Solid at the back for her side, rarely putting a foot wrong. Made some vital blocks and clearances.
Emma Lawton (Partick Thistle) - Back to back appearances in the TOTW for Lawton. Her short back pass may have cost her side a goal against Celtic, but that aside she was central to limiting the home side for much of the match.
Shen Mengyu (Celtic) - Showed great anticipation for her goal, sealing the win for Celtic. Was a constant threat with her on-point deliveries and shots on target.
Jade McLaren (Montrose) - Was key in Montrose’s comeback. Great drive and creativity and grabbed the crucial equaliser.
Alana Marshall (Spartans) - What a hit for Spartans' winner. A superbly taken strike from 30 yards out.
Murphy Agnew (Celtic) - A goal and an assist in what was a tricky game at times for Celtic. Was alert to the mistake at the back from Thistle. Always on the front foot for her side.
Ava Thomson (Aberdeen) - Unlucky to have missed out in the TOTW for the past couple of weeks, and although her contribution didn’t lead to a win for Aberdeen she certainly helped them to get back into the match. Her goal was beautifully worked.
Emily Whelan (Glasgow City) - Didn’t get on the scoresheet this weekend as her side lost narrowly to Rangers, but she tried her best for City. She forced a save and cracked the woodwork, deserved something for her pace and energy.
Jorian Baucom (Hibs) - Another player who’s been in great form for her side. Her goal tally this season is impressive, and she added another this weekend. Maybe there was a touch of fortune about her goal, but once again she was in the right place to ensure ended up in the back of the net.
Glasgow City 0-1 Rangers: What the managers saidpublished at 14:23 13 May
14:23 13 May
Glasgow City manager Leanne Ross:
"I'm really pleased with the team's performance, the way they came out from start to finish.
"At the end of the day we've conceded a goal that, from our perspective, is so disappointing. It's a throw in, we've switched off.
"To be fair to Rachel McLauchlan, it's a great finish but we've played into their hands by switching off. That's cost us in the end but in terms of performance otherwise I'm pleased with my squad's performance."
Rangers manager Jo Potter:
"We knew it wasn't going to be an easy game.
"The main job was three points and we managed to get that done. I think the game was quite stop-start and we were up against it with some decisions.
"It's tough, it's frustrating, I was probably the most frustrated I've been on the sidelines but our players dealt with that well.
"What will be will be but we've got to make sure we're doing our job.
"Three points were big for us, securing Champions League is big for us. That's not our emphasis just now, our emphasis is winning the league but we've got to take that positive from the game."
Aberdeen 2-3 Motherwell: What the managers saidpublished at 14:20 13 May
14:20 13 May
Aberdeen boss Clinton Lancaster:
"We knew they'd be a tough test for us but going down to 10 again doesn't help.
"I thought we did ourselves proud in the second half. We didn't start well at all. To come back and almost hold on for a point with 10 players on the pitch, I think we probably deserved a point.
"I can't fault the effort and the character the players showed to come back again. Two weeks in a row, 10 players on the pitch in the first half is not ideal."
Motherwell manager Paul Brownlie:
"I'm delighted to win the game, it's a massive three points for us that allows us to go above Aberdeen.
"I thought first half, performance wise, we were excellent. We were playing against a good side so in the context of the game, it's a huge three points for us.
"I'm delighted to win and especially so late. The character these players have got is one of their biggest strengths, they don't know when they're beat."
Celtic 3-0 Partick Thistle: What the managers saidpublished at 14:18 13 May
14:18 13 May
Celtic manager Elena Sadiku:
"We knew that if we played our game, did what we knew we could do then we'd create chances.
"We should have scored more in the first half, I think Murphy Agnew's shot especially should have been a goal.
"But we stayed patient, kept working and got two more goals.
"I don't think we played fast enough and that helped Partick but I think the subs brought energy and some more speed. I'm happy with the three points."
Partick Thistle boss Brian Graham:
"It's progress again, I think that's the best we've played against Celtic all season.
"There's two games to go, they're favourites for the title. It was a sloppy mistake for the second goal, Emma is devastated with herself but she's been absolutely magnificent all season.
"I thought she was brilliant today, Celtic actually stopped coming down her side because they weren't getting past her. I thought for large parts of the game we were well in it and we'll take those positives from it."
Dundee United 1-2 Montrose: What the managers said published at 14:17 13 May
14:17 13 May
Dundee United manager Suzy Shepherd:
"It's gutting, it's the timing of that second goal.
"I felt as if we were in control in the first half and maybe should have gone in another one or two goals up.
"We were causing our own problems by giving away cheap free-kicks and corners.
"We need to learn how to manage games when we're in control. There's two games to go and we'll do everything we possibly can to try and pick up points."
Montrose manager Craig Feroz:
"The first half performance I thought was the worst we've played all season but it's difficult when we're not playing for anything really anymore.
"But I thought in the second half we were outstanding. When we changed the formation I thought we attacked really well and United didn't really have an answer to it."
Hibernian 2-0 Hearts: What the managers saidpublished at 14:15 13 May
14:15 13 May
Hibernian manager Grant Scott:
"It's credit to the players, I thought that was a terrific result, terrific performance.
"That's the kind of performance we've been producing regularly but we haven't got the rewards for but we got it today.
"We're just focusing on ourselves. We're a professional team, we're going to go about our business properly.
"The league will end up where it is and we're just trying to pick up points."
Hearts manager Eva Olid:
"It was not our day. It's difficult because our objective in the league is done and our mind is on the cup.
"We want to compete and win the games but it's difficult. The schedule is difficult, we want to do rotations to be as best as possible in the cup.
"It's rather annoying. We did our objective in the league so our heads are on the 26th of May.
"We still prepared the match to win but it's difficult to get that motivation when our heads are still on the cup."
Spartans 1-0 Hamilton Accies: What the managers saidpublished at 14:07 13 May
14:07 13 May
Spartans manager Jack Beesley:
"It was a very hard fought win. I actually thought we played really really well.
"We showed good self belief. I think the nature of the way Hamilton play getting that first goal can open them up.
"Where they are, the fact that they needed to get something from the game, getting that goal probably worked in our favour.
"At the end of the day, it's a bit later than I would have liked, but mission accomplished."
Hamilton Accies manager Robert Watson:
"It was a very tight tussle decided by a goal that only maybe two players in the whole division score.
"Even then it's hit the bar and come off the back of our goalkeeper's head.
"I felt both teams looked nervy and neither team really made anything clear cut.
"It's taken a 40-yard strike to settle the game off which probably tells everyone everything they need to know about how the game panned out."
'We need to show we belong here' - Accies boss Watson hopeful of SWPL survivalpublished at 11:01 11 May
11:01 11 May
Hamilton Accies have three games to show they deserve to stay in the top flight says manager Robert Watson.
Accies are in 11th place and are facing the prospect of a relegation play-off.
The Lanarkshire side are level on points with Dundee United below them but have a slightly better goal difference which keeps them in front.
"I think we've really grown over the season and we want to continue that into next year whatever happens," Watson said.
"We want to do everything to stay up but whatever happens we are going to be able to look ourselves in the mirror and say we gave it everything.
"We've deserved to stay up but I'm a very big believer in that a league table doesn't lie. If you go down it's over 32 games, it's the fairest way.
"I think we've shown in individual games that we're not the worst team in the league.
"We now need to show that over the next three games and we need to show that we belong here."
Ashworth-Clifford hoping to end tricky season with glorypublished at 10:53 11 May
10:53 11 May
Lucy Ashworth-Clifford is hoping for a positive end to a tricky season with Celtic.
The attacker was sidelined for a year with an ACL injury but made her return to competitive action in January and has been a key member of Elena Sadiku's side since.
Celtic are currently top of the SWPL and if they win their remaining three games are likely to lift the trophy.
"This season has taken its toll but we get a good recovery in," she said.
"I am just getting back into it, I'm now starting to feel like I'm getting back into the swing of things from before I was injured.
"Hopefully by the end of this week I can finish off a hard season with a good win."
'We know how to beat Motherwell' - Dons boss Lancaster published at 10:33 11 May
10:33 11 May
Aberdeen boss Clinton Lancaster says Sunday's clash with Motherwell is a "must-win" for the visitors.
Both teams are comfortably safe for next season but only three points separates the Dons in seventh with Motherwell in eighth.
"We know Motherwell's performances have improved and they've turned a bit of a corner in the split.
"We've got the qualities and we've got a really good group. We've beaten them here before, we've beaten them away in the league so we know how to beat them but we're not underestimating them.
"For them it's probably a must win to come up here and pick up the three points so we need to go into it with the right attitude."
Ireland striker Whelan signs Glasgow City extensionpublished at 18:05 10 May
18:05 10 May
Glasgow City boss Leanne Ross has hailed Emily Whelan's extraordinary work ethic after the Republic of Ireland signed a contract extension.
Whelan, 21, has made 69 appearances since joining City in 2022 and was a key player in last season's title success.
“I am not sure I have come across a player that works as hard as she does in training or in games, I often wonder where she gets her energy from," said Ross.
"It is so important to have players with the work ethic, ability and positive energy Emily brings to our squad."
Whelan is "delighted" with her new deal, the length of which has not been disclosed.
"I have loved my first couple of seasons here so far and feel like I have learned a lot," she added.
Murray 'counting down the lasts' as she calls time on Hibs careerpublished at 15:08 10 May
15:08 10 May
Charlotte Cohen BBC Sport Scotland
Joelle Murray says she and her Hibs team-mates have to park their emotions ahead of the captain's last Edinburgh derby.
The defender, 37, is hanging up her boots at the end of the season after over 20 years with Hibs.
Friday night's game against Hearts at Meadowbank will be the captain's last outing against their rivals.
"Even before the announcement I knew it was coming," Murray said.
"For so long I've been counting down the lasts. Last game against Glasgow City, although she was injured for it, I was thinking about it being my last coin toss with Hayley Lauder, and tonight will be another one of those.
"It will be quite emotional but I just need to park those emotions. At the end of the day it is about the team.
"That is why we wanted to announce it when we did so we can park that and shift full focus to the game."
Rangers aim to make title push 'difficult' for Celticpublished at 14:58 10 May
14:58 10 May
Rangers boss Jo Potter says her side need to make it "as hard as possible" for Celtic to claim their first SWPL title.
The Glasgow rivals are level on points but Celtic top the table thanks to being 13 goals better off with just three games remaining.
Potter, whose side are away to third-place Glasgow City on Sunday, said: "We've got to make sure we're doing everything we can to make it as hard as possible for Celtic, if they are going to lift the trophy.
"And we need to make sure we're doing everything we can do to make sure we are still in a position to do that.
"The goal difference ultimately acts as an extra point. If they win all their games they win the league, that's not the same with us.
"The emphasis is on them to keep doing what they're doing but we've got to make sure we do the same as well."