Scottish Women's Football

Image source, Colin Poultney/SWPL

Partick Thistle proved, on numerous occasions last season, that they can be a real thorn in the side of the top teams in the SWPL.

Hibs became particularly accustomed to the threats of Brian Graham's side in their six meetings last term.

Their five SWPL matches, Hibs won two, Thistle won two and the other was a draw. The Glasgow side also put Grant Scott's team out of the SWPL Cup with a 2-0 victory in the semi-final. Across those matches, both sides scored a total of seven goals each.

This season, Hibs are looking to right past wrongs and have already redeemed last year's cup disappointment with a 4-1 victory over Thistle in the early rounds of the competition.

Sunday marks the first league meeting between the pair, currently separated by 14 points in the SWPL table after 13 games and Hibs were certainly be the more confident of the sides.

Currently sitting fourth in the table, five points off Glasgow City and the top and off the back of a 1-0 victory over Edinburgh rivals Hearts at Tynecastle, things are looking pretty rosy for Grant Scott's side.

On the other hand, Thistle drew 1-1 with fellow top-six contenders Motherwell at home last weekend, keeping them in the bottom half of the table.

How to follow on the BBC

There will be live text coverage of all six Sunday games from 12:50 on the BBC Sport website and app.

Celtic v Montrose (16:30) is live on the BBC Sport website, app and on iPlayer.

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

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

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Title challengers Rangers host relegation-threatened Dundee United on Sunday afternoon in a game shaping up as a stark case of have v have-not.

The last time these sides met in the league Rangers were 10-0 winners and after losing the title on goal difference last year, Potter's side will be going for it once again.

Rangers are flying at the top end of the table, just a point behind league leaders Glasgow City but with a far superior goal difference.

Having just beaten Celtic to open up a four-point gap between the Old Firm rivals, Potter's team have scored 70 goals in the league this season and conceded just nine.

United, in contrast, are already staring at the real possibility of relegation. Due to the restructuring of the top flight, three teams will go down at the end of the season without any last-ditch lifeline of a play-off.

After 13 games, Suzy Shepherd's part-time side have picked up just one point and sit rock bottom of the SWPL, 10 points from safety.

United survived a relegation play-off last season, defeating Kilmarnock to retain their place in the top flight, but the chance of a great escape is looking slimmer by the day.

They've scored just seven goals, the lowest in the top flight, and have conceded 73, the highest in the division.

Things don't get any easier. After Rangers, they face Hibs before a trip to fellow strugglers Queen's Park which is looking like a must win for United.

Then their final game before the Christmas break is a visit to Glasgow City.

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Scotland head coach Pedro Martinez Losa has been speaking to the media after naming his squad for the two-legged Euro 2025 play-off with Finland.

Here are the key lines:

• The two players coming into the set-up, Celtic's Kelly Clark and Rangers' Chelsea Cornet, highlight Scotland's "competitive squad".

• The Scotland boss says leading the nation to next summer's finals would be the "most important moment" of his managerial career.

• He believes "this group is prepared and determined" to qualify for a major tournament.

• But he acknowledges they are going to "face a very difficult opponent" in Finland.

• He feels the squad have evolved over the years and they are now ready to take the next step by reaching Euro 2025.

• Finland ended Scotland's hopes of reaching Euro 2022 in gut-wrenching fashion and Martinez Losa is aware "history can repeat unless you do things differently", but "the team are in a different moment now".

Scotland head coach Pedro Martinez Losa is confident his side will defeat Finland over two legs in the upcoming play-off to secure a place at Euro 2025.

Celtic were knocked out of the Women's Champions League as they lost 3-0 against Chelsea.

Were you at Stamford Bridge or following the match elsewhere?

Either way, we want your views on Celtic's defeat at Chelsea - have your say, external.

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Celtic head coach Elena Sadiku says juggling Champions League and domestic demands this season has been "very challenging".

Sadiku credits the club with supporting her request for a bigger backroom staff to help cope with the increased workload.

The Scottish champions are at Stamford Bridge this evening, faced with the daunting task of trying to take their first group-stage point against a Chelsea side featuring Scotland forward Erin Cuthbert.

"Mostly I've learned, especially with this busy schedule - I don't know how many games we’ve had since August but it's a lot - with the structure that we have, with only me and another coach, with all these games, that it's been very challenging," said Sadiku.

"We've got in another coach and we're bringing in another full-time physio. The structure needs to be bigger otherwise it's very tough.

"I've learned a lot about how to manage the staff, how to manage the players, especially when it's always recovery then matchday minus one. We've not been able to train and try to develop individually or collectively.

"It's more about reminding the players about our principles and giving feedback on how to improve. For me at least, it doesn't matter what it says on your back, it's all about how you can control your thoughts.

"The togetherness within the team has been and is going to be very important for us now and for the remainder of the season."

After losing 2-1 at home to Chelsea last week, the odds are stacked against Celtic being able to hold the side currently two points clear at the top of the Women's Super League.

"We want to win. That's our gameplan," Sadiku said.

"I feel like the performances have been growing during the competition so hopefully we can get some points soon enough.

"What I'm expecting is a Chelsea who want to prove they're much better than the last time we played. Our mindset is just to put together a great performance again."

Having battled to a creditable 2-1 home defeat by Champions League powerhouses Chelsea last week, Celtic face a "much tougher" assignment against the Blues at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night, says Scotland captain Rachel Corsie.

Listen and subscribe to Behind the Goals on BBC Sounds

"I just think in that moment, you have to hang fire."

It's a split-second decision that is still dictating discourse.

Of course, the big talking point on the Behind The Goals podcast this week was the penalty decision in the Old Firm match.

Celtic's Shannon McGregor was deemed to have clipped Rangers' Charlie Devlin enough to merit a penalty.

There's been plenty analysing of it, and now Scotland defender and captain Rachel Corsie has had her say too.

"When I saw it live I was like, aye, definitely," the Aston Villa centre-half said.

"Then, on a replay, there isn't much contact. There's a little bit, but you go risk v reward. I think Shannon thinks she's getting there, otherwise she wouldn't go for it, but even if she had, she's probably only getting a toe to it.

"I just think in that moment, you have to hang fire and recover if you're McGregor.

"But for Devlin, if you're just about to receive the ball and someone nicks you like that, I think that's being smart. I know it's a fine line, I know some people call that cheating but I think it's game intelligence, there."

Former team-mate and friend Leanne Crichton concurred with Corsie... just.

"Probably just a penalty, and I know that's going to cause debate because I'd describe it as soft," the former Scotland midfielder added.

"But I think it would have been difficult for the referee not to give it, even if he was given the opportunity to review it.

"When you're the defending player and you come in almost wrong side, and there's any sort of contact, and you clearly don't win the ball, you're running the risk, you're walking a tight line."

Our Behind The Goals hosts think the right decision was reached, but do you?

Click play to watch the incident above and make up your own mind.

Iona Ballantyne
BBC Sport Scotland

Jenna Fife (Rangers): An integral part of a huge Old Firm victory. Came up with a massive save to deny Emma Lawton late on and make sure all three points went to Rangers.

Emma Lawton (Celtic): Has been an excellent addition to the Celtic defence. Despite defeat against Rangers, Lawton sent a superb cross to Caitlin Hayes for the initial equaliser, came close a number of times and had a big chance saved late on.

Chelsie Watson (Motherwell): As Motherwell and Partick Thistle continue the race for top six, Watson was an important part of the defensive line to make sure the home side didn’t get any more in the back of the net. A draw keeps Motherwell in the top half of the table.

Stacey Papadopoulos (Hibernian): Defended well in the Edinburgh derby victory. The Australian's perseverance throughout the 90 minutes helped create the winning goal and narrow the gap on Hibs' city rivals.

Chelsea Cornet (Rangers): Came off the bench for her first match since an injury lay-off stretching back to August. Crowned her comeback with a brilliant half-volley to secure all three points for Rangers in a crucial Old Firm win.

Hannah Jordan (Spartans): Has been impressive all season and was a big threat in the win over Montrose. Scored her first hat-trick of the season and could easily have netted more.

Kirsty Maclean (Rangers): A huge part of Rangers' midfield which helped to ensure a first league win over Celtic in more than a year. Made an impact across the whole park.

Hayley Lauder (Glasgow City): Instrumental in midfield and scored a brace in a very comfortable victory over Queen's Park.

Tiree Burchill (Partick Thistle): Scored an incredible equaliser following a lovely bit of play and put in a big shift in the 1-1 draw with Motherwell.

Nicole Kozlova (Glasgow City): Netted a fantastic hat-trick and set Lauder up for one of her two goals. Big part of a big win to keep Glasgow City top of the table.

Emily Kraft (Aberdeen): Pivotal in the comeback win over Dundee United. Her cross to Francesca Ogilvie set up the first goal and Kraft's late winner earned the Dons an important third victory of the season.

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Celtic assistant coach David Haley: "I'm a little bit disappointed with our first half, especially in terms of duels. We tried to address that at half-time, be that bit more aggressive and on the front foot and I think we did that.

"We wanted to come out firing and put Rangers on the back foot but it just wasn't meant to be.

"There's still plenty of games to go so there is nothing to be worried about in terms of our league position at the moment."

Rangers head coach Jo Potter: "We're super pleased. We felt like we let ourselves down in the last fixture so we knew we needed to make sure we didn't make the same mistakes this time around. We handled that pressure and deserved the three points.

"We knew there would be a buffer after this game, but we can't get carried away. There are other teams around us now who can start challenging the top three spots - I don't think they're nailed on. That all makes for a better spectacle."

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Hearts head coach Eva Olid: "We didn't deserve to win, but probably didn't deserve to lose either, it was a draw game. It was not a good game of football.

"We had the possession but they had more chances. We committed mistakes we don't usually commit.

"I had confidence that mentally we were ready, but from the first minute I thought we looked nervous. We coped at Easter Road well, with no pressure but today it looked like we had pressure."

Hibernian head coach Grant Scott: "I put a bit of pressure on the girls today by saying to them, 'look at the results elsewhere you know a three point victory puts us in the mix'.

"We said that at the start of the game before we came out and the girls have taken that on. They've handled the pressure and they've won the game, so I'm delighted with them.

"I just hope we take confidence from results and performances like this where we've had to dig deep and manage the game late, get the winner late and see it through."

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Queen's Park manager Craig Joyce: "Leanne has built a strong unit, they're a fantastic team. First half, we were not at the races, we maybe showed them too much respect. Second half, we were much better so I'm proud of the way we massively improved.

"These games aren't going to define us, but what we can do is show our character and we done that.

"Everyone expects us to fail, but we have a mentality where we don't want that to happen."

Glasgow City head coach Leanne Ross: "I'm delighted with the way we started the game and scored some nice goals in the first half.

"Credit to Queen's Park, they came out and made it very difficult for us. They defended deep so there wasn't much space to play.

"We got a lot of minutes for players who haven't been playing recently, so that was good to see."

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Partick Thistle manager Brian Graham: "We didn't start the game well, we were waiting for Motherwell to score. Second half, though, we were much better and either team could have won it, so I think a draw is a fair reflection.

"It's always a competitive game against Motherwell, we're two evenly-matched sides.

Motherwell manager Paul Brownlie: "I'm disappointed not to win today, I thought we were very good and dominant. We were really comfortable and started well.

"To come here and get a point against a side who were top six last season speaks volumes, but I'm disappointed not to take the three points. I thought in the second half we were the only team on the front foot and looking to win the game."