Scottish Women's Football

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

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This Sunday is the final round of fixtures - and chance for some drama at the top end of the table - before the SWPL winter break.

Rangers, who were knocked off the top by Glasgow City's stunning 3-0 win last weekend, host Hibs at Broadwood in the final game before we call it quits for the next couple of weeks.

Hibs, currently fourth, are looking to make a dent in the gap between themselves and the top three if they can best last season's cup double winners.

As things stand, Hibs are four points behind Hearts, five adrift of Rangers and eight off leaders City.

Rangers have won nine of the past 10 meetings between these two, but crucially the exception was a draw earlier this season.

Hibs were on course for all three points but were left to rue a late penalty miss from Eilidh Adams, who had earlier scored the opener, as a 93rd-minute spot-kick from Rio Hardy rescued a draw for Rangers.

After Rangers' defeat last weekend, boss Jo Potter insisted her side "didn't deserve anything" from the top-of-the-table clash and stressed the need to improve.

Hibs midfielder Ciara Grant is wary of the potential Rangers backlash this Sunday, but says her side's unbeaten seven-game SWPL run provides belief.

"We have to create the positivity and confidence that we can go and compete with any team and take points when we need to," Grant said.

"They're going to be very disappointed from their heavy defeat against Glasgow City so it'll be interesting to see how they come out.

"They know what to expect from us so they will be ready but I think we now have that confidence taken from the last game and recent performances to really give it a good crack."

How to follow the action on BBC

Rangers v Hibs will be shown live on BBC Alba and the BBC Sport website and app. It kicks off at 16:10 GMT.

There will be live text coverage of all six Sunday games from 12:45 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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Pedro Martinez Losa has taken charge of Mexican side Tigres Femenil - just a week after his Scotland sacking.

The 48-year-old Spaniard was dismissed after play-off defeat by Finland cost Scotland qualification for Euro 2025.

It was a second failed attempt to reach a major tournament under Martinez Losa.

Tigres are currently second in the Mexican top flight, which gets back under way next month. Pedro Martinez's first game in charge is set to be on 7 January against Tijuana.

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Assistant manager Jay Bradford is leaving Rangers, the club have announced.

The former Coventry City and Burnley boss moved to Ibrox alongside boss Jo Potter in summer 2023 and helped guide the side to success in both domestic cups last season.

Bradford will move on after Sunday's game against Hibs as SWPL clubs go into the winter break.

"This was not an easy decision for me as I have loved my time with the club," she said.

"I had to weigh up several factors in both my professional and working life and at this time I felt it was the right move.

"I have loved working with Jo, we have a great working relationship, as well as a friendship which will continue, and I am sure she will lead the club to more success. Being part of two trophy wins last season was incredible."

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"You start looking over your shoulder. You think, do things come in threes? What else is going to happen?"

Scotland and Aston Villa defender Rachel Corsie has been reflecting on a "very hard week" in which both her national team and club managers were sacked.

Pedro Martinez Losa paid the price for Scotland's failure to qualify for Euro 2025 when he was dismissed on 13 December, two days after Robert de Pauw left Villa following a six-month spell in charge.

"It has felt a very hard week. As a player you just have to go into that mode, we [Villa] also had midweek fixtures last week," said Corsie on the BBC's Behind the Goals podcast.

"You just have to rally and galvanise the players together. Being apart from Scotland, you touch base with as many people as you can or that have reached out to you.

"From a club perspective you're a little more in the thick of it, so it's been a difficult week with people losing their job around Christmas time. Any time is bad but [especially] around this time when you're building into a Christmas break.

"The [Villa] team managed to get a win on Wednesday night and a win on Sunday which has just slightly helped some of those heavy feelings.

"It's not been a nice week for me personally. As a player, in a tough way you almost have to put those emotions to the side."

Corsie has yet to make her playing comeback after knee surgery in early October.

She added: "With me being out injured it's helped me fulfil that role of trying to keep the players all together and just focus on the task ahead because I'm not in the emotional ups and downs of team selection and playing in the games where we've not had the results we would have liked to have had.

"I've tried to be that support, and the players have dealt with it really well."

The search for new Scotland women's head coach is ongoing and the SFA hope to confirm a replacement for Pedro Martinez Losa as soon as possible, says chief executive Ian Maxwell.

The Spaniard left in the wake of the nation's failure to reach Euro 2025 after his side lost 2-0 on aggregate to play-off opponents Finland this month.

Martinez Losa also failed to guide the Scots to the 2023 World Cup via the play-offs.

Speaking to BBC Scotland, Maxwell said: "It's very disappointing not to qualify for last two tournaments. Football is results-driven business.

"We have a talented squad of players and we want to make sure we can qualify for tournaments.

"The recruitment process has started and we'll aim to get the best candidate in place as soon as possible.

"It's always a difficult and interesting process, but we want to get the right person in place as soon as possible."

We asked for your views on Celtic's 3-0 defeat against FC Twente in the Champions League.

Here's what some of you said:

David: A bit disappointing in the end as I'd hoped they'd get a draw or even a win last night. Poor defensively at corners and not clearing the box, having defended so well in middle four games. Pretty easy chances missed at 0-0 and 0-1 which has been all season. Still great to be in the group stage and let's get there again next season.

Aidan: The qualifiers and group games were great to be a part of to see some of the game's best professionals. Fingers crossed the ladies return to group-stage football in future and can compete better to further grow the women's game in Scotland.

Celtic bowed out of their maiden Women's Champions League group campaign without a point as Twente won comfortably in Enschede.

A Kayleigh van Dooren strike and own goals from Lisa Rodgers and Natalie Ross put the game beyond Elena Sadiku's side before half-time.

Celtic fans, what did you make of the game and the team's Champions League campaign?

Share your thoughts, external

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Celtic captain Kelly Clark spoke of her pride after their maiden Women's Champions League campaign.

Elena Sadiku's SWPL winners were unable to register their first point in Group B as they went down 3-0 to Twente.

All three goals came in the first half but Celtic improved after the break.

Despite the results, Clark told Uefa: "We've shown what we're capable of.

"It's disappointing to end the campaign this way, but I'm proud of my team.

"We have a very young, inexperienced team, but we're growing. We show such character in the second half and fight to come back. We really made it difficult for them. That's something we need to remember."

Scotland skipper Rachel Corsie and former midfielder Leanne Crichton discuss the search for a new head coach to replace the sacked Pedro Martinez Losa.

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

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Rachael Johnstone (Hearts): Made some vital saves for her side including one brilliant reaction stop to prevent Spartans grabbing an equaliser.

Samantha van Diemen (Glasgow City): Recovered well from a near mishap in front of her own goal, as she made some timely and vital interceptions when Rangers showed a bit of threat in the second half.

Lizzie Waldie (Hearts): Set up her team's opening goal with a pinpoint ball. Was a threat going forward all afternoon, while also mopping up at the back when required.

Demi Taylor (Montrose): Played a huge part in a good draw for Montrose at Partick Thistle. The defender provided an assist for her side's opener, then cracked in a beauty to make it 3-3.

Hayley Lauder (Glasgow City): Controlled the game with ease in a holding midfield role. Was composed and kept things ticking along for City.

Rosie Livingstone (Hibs): Scored Hibs' second goal early in the second half to calm the nerves before they eased to a comfortable win over Motherwell.

Ciara Grant (Hibs): Provided two assists - her delivery from corners was bang on the money.

Natalia Wrobel (Glasgow City): Was in the right place at the right time for all three of her goals. Showed good reaction for her opening strike, and was alert to a defensive mistake for her second. The Polish midfielder's first hat-trick for City helped them to a big win over Rangers as they moved back to the top of the table.

Freya Brien (Dundee United): A massive moment for United as they won their first league match of the season, and Brien was influential. It was her initial shot that was rebounded into the net for the equaliser, then her winner earned the precious three points.

Olufolasade Adamolekun (Hearts): Scored both goals for Hearts after getting herself in good positions. Showed lovely composure for her second strike.

Kathleen McGovern (Hibs): Persisted all afternoon in front of goal and finally got her rewards, helping Hibs to a good win in difficult conditions.

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Head coach Elena Sadiku has been speaking to the media ahead of Celtic's Champions League tie with FC Twente.

Here are the key points...

• Hoping to put on a "great performance" in the Netherlands. Sadiku thinks Celtic have "grown as a team on this big stage", and is hoping to "tie everything together" on Tuesday.

• It has been a "tough schedule" balancing European and domestic games. Keeping players fit and recovery has been a learning curve.

• At this level, teams need to be "switched on all the time". Sadiku believes Celtic have been punished for a lack of focus in previous games and need to learn from that.

• Determined to get back to domestic focus in January and trying to win the league to get another crack at the Champions League. "Next time we compete on this stage, we will be better."

• On preparation, it was the "best match day minus one training session I've seen from this group". The team is "hungry" to show people what they can do.

• FC Twente, are a "good attacking team", but also "intense" in defence.

• Murphy Agnew is a fitness doubt for Celtic.

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Leanne Ross has stressed her "focus is with Glasgow City" amid links to the current Scotland vacancy.

The former international was a key figure in Pedro Martinez Losa's coaching staff and has been at the centre of speculation surrounding his successor.

However, the 43-year-old emphasised her commitment to club football.

"I'm focussed on my job here at Glasgow City, that's always been the case," Ross told BBC Scotland.

"The national team, I love being involved with, but for me I am the Glasgow City manager."

Martinez Losa left his position as Scotland head coach on Friday following a second failure to reach a major tournament and Ross underlined the importance of returning to the top table under the next boss.

"We need to follow the process which is now in place and make sure we get the right person in place," she added.

"We need to make sure we get the best out the players we have going forward because we need to get back into major tournaments.

"The players we have right now have to be playing on the biggest stage."

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Spartans head coach Jack Beesley: "I thought we were excellent. I'm really pleased with their application and their effort. For them to show the composure and resilience to fight back despite conceding so early, I thought we were close to a match for them.

"In isolation, it was a good performance. It shows we can try and compete. It's a performance we can be proud of. In the midst of a hard spell of games for us, I thought it was a great performance."

Hearts head coach Eva Olid: "We could've been better. I always demand a performance and the three points. Today I expected a better performance, but, we did the job and that is the important thing."

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Queen's Park head of women's football John McNeil: "It's hard. I feel for the girls. I thought for the first 70 minutes we were the better side and dominated.

"They came out in the second half, but, it's cruel. Two chances and two goals.

"It's been a really tough week, we've had one session together but the girls have stood up to it, they've been excellent."

Dundee United head coach Suzy Shepherd: "It was all about character in the second half. I think the girls thoroughly deserved their three points.

"There was belief out there and I'm so proud of them to get the first league win."

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Partick Thistle head coach Brian Graham: "We played well in spells today but we gifted two goals in the first half. Over the course of the season, we're drawing too many games.

"We've not done enough over the course of the season. There's been lapses in concentration, our structure has to be better, we can't get complacent."

Montrose manager Craig Feroz: "Coming down here getting a point against a good Partick Thistle side, I'm delighted.

"My players never give up, they never have since we came into the league."

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Hibernian head coach Grant Scott: "A very good win and clean sheet against a very good team who are progressing.

"I think playing against the win suited us better. First half we went too long too soon, second half we kept it short and sweet.

"We're fighting to accumulate as many points as we can."

Motherwell head coach Paul Brownlie: "I thought our first half performance deserved more, but, credit to Hibs their second half performance, they created more opportunities.

"I thought we were far better than Hibs in the first half but we didn't take our chances."