Scottish Women's Football

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Erin Cuthbert says her winning goal against Barcelona "sits pretty high" in her career achievements but insists its importance is yet to be determined.

Scotland midfielder Cuthbert, 25, netted Chelsea's only goal of the Women's Champions League semi-final first leg, with the return leg in London on Saturday.

"It sits pretty high up there," Cuthbert told the BBC's Women's Football Weekly podcast.

"It might not mean a lot. It is the first leg. The importance of it will only truly be known after the second leg. It's a great start."

Cuthbert described the 40,000-strong crowd at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys as "very, very vocal".

"When the ball went in the net, I was just absolutely buzzing," she explained.

"I love when everyone's against you - us against the world. They have so many fans, they create a great atmosphere.

"Being able to silence them even for a couple of minutes was really nice."

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Leanne Crichton says form will go out the window in the Women's Scottish Cup semi-final between Celtic and Rangers at Hampden on Saturday.

Rangers have already won the SWPL Cup and are chasing a treble, but lost their long hold on top spot in the table last week with defeat by Hearts, allowing Celtic to go two points clear.

"I hope it's going to be a cracker," former Scotland and Glasgow City midfielder Crichton told the BBC's Behind the Goals podcast.

"I don't think there's an awful lot between the sides, they've both been really impressive over the course of the season.

"Rangers had that early momentum, real consistency to their performances and they managed to open up that lead at the top.

"Of late, Celtic have thrown the cat among the pigeons, they've really put together some top performances and added goals into the mix as well.

"I still think when it comes down to the Old Firm game you can never call it based on form. It comes down to who is going to handle the occasion, tactically who is going to get it right on the day.

"Even substitutions when you get to the latter stages of the game when there's not an awful lot between the sides so then it comes down to the two managers and who can get it right.

"It is going to be another spectacle in the women's game."

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With just five games left of the SWPL season things are heating up at the top and bottom of the table.

The race to be crowned top scorer is also delivering twists and turns after being dominated by strikers from top-six clubs for much of the season.

Hibs' Jorian Baucom and Rio Hardy had been swapping places at the top of the charts but since the split a new contender has entered the fray.

Aberdeen's Bayley Hutchison is now the surprise name leading the way, with her hat-trick against Dundee United at the weekend taking her tally to 24 goals.

The Dons currently occupy seventh spot in the SWPL and are the in-form team in the bottom half, netting 11 times in their last three games.

Hutchison is closely followed by Celtic's Amy Gallacher on 22 goals, with Baucom and Hardy both on 21. Can the 20-year-old Dons forward keep them at bay during the run-in?

Rachel Corsie and Leanne Crichton are joined by Hearts striker Kathleen McGovern on the latest episode of the Behind the Goals podcast.

Among the topics being discussed are the upcoming Scottish Cup semi-finals and getting more fans at women's games. Give it a listen here.

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Rangers' win over Partick Thistle highlighted the "gulf" in finances between part-time and full-time SWPL sides, says former Scotland international Julie Fleeting.

Speaking on the BBC's SWPL Sportscene programme, Fleeting said Thistle can take lots of positives from their performance despite a 3-1 defeat extending their losing run to eight matches.

"It's such a crucial time in the season," Fleeting said.

"The games are coming thick and fast for teams and every single one is really crucial to the end result for Rangers.

"It was a really good game for Partick, I think they can take lots of positives from it. The fact that they pushed a really strong Rangers side for long spells.

"Ava Easdon had a big part to play and made numerous saves to keep Rangers out.

"Rangers have such a big squad, quality players sitting on the bench so they can swap like for like.

"In the second half they brought on more experienced players and they had a massive part to play in the fact that Rangers did collect all three points.

"That's the difference between sides like Partick Thistle and Rangers, Rangers have that quality squad, they've got plenty of players that can come on and make a difference.

"It just shows you the gulf in terms of the funds that Rangers have at their disposal."

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Dundee United have confirmed their huge SWPL relegation showdown with Hamilton Accies on Saturday has been moved from Foundation Park to Tannadice.

The match is hugely significant in the relegation scrap with second-bottom Accies just three points above United with five games remaining.

Head coach Suzy Shepherd said: "We are all really excited for the game this Saturday and the occasion is added to by playing at Tannadice.

"I'd like to encourage as many fans as possible to come along and support the team in what I am sure will be a very entertaining game."

Head of football operations Ross Starke added: "Hosting the women's team match at Tannadice this Saturday is another step forward in our commitment to supporting women's football and fostering inclusivity within Dundee United.

"The previous occasions here have been really special and we're hoping for another successful afternoon on the pitch."

Watch all 22 goals from Sunday's six SWPL post-split matches as the race for the title and survival gathers pace.

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Hibs goalkeeper Katie Fraine says her side are "shooting themselves in the foot" with recent performances.

Sunday's 1-0 home loss to Glasgow City means the fifth-place Edinburgh side are winless in their last four SWPL games and have only scored one goal in those outings.

"It’s frustrating to not get anything out of the game again," Fraine told Hibs TV.

"We’re shooting ourselves in the foot a little bit at this point. We’ve had a couple of good performances in a row, except from the Hearts game, but at this point it’s just about wrapping up some points.

"As a team, we are defending really well but aren’t really getting those attacking situations so we can put our strikers in good situations more often.

"We can’t keep expecting them to put away the one or two chances they might get. We need to have a flurry of opportunities."

Lee Gibson (Glasgow City): Gibson played her part in ensuring City earned a vital three points. She was alert when she had to be making a couple of crucial saves to keep Hibs at bay and ensuring a City win.

Caitlin Hayes (Celtic): Not just composed at the back helping her side to a clean sheet, but again she provided an attacking threat for Celtic with two assists.

Hannah Jordan (Spartans): Jordan was a real handful on the day. It was her effort that deflected in for Spartans' opener and her 78th minute strike sealed a big win that takes them further away from relegation danger.

Nicola Docherty (Rangers): She came off the bench and was influential in helping Rangers to a win when Thistle were making things tricky. Her desire to drive Rangers forward was evident, and her delivery for their much-needed second goal was inch perfect.

Amy Muir (Glasgow City): Did really well to create space on the left as she crossed the ball in for City’s opening goal.

Laura Berry (Motherwell): Berry is thriving on loan at Motherwell, showing exactly what she can do. She was key to a lot of her side’s creativity and threat this weekend.

Kayla Jardine (Motherwell): Another youngster grabbing her opportunity on loan. She kept her cool when prodding home the opening goal for the Women of Steel.

Mya Bates (Spartans): Her shot to give Spartans a two-goal cushion was hit with pace, and in off the woodwork. Her goal set the tone for the remainder of the match for Spartans.

Lauren Davidson (Glasgow City): Davidson has scored 15 league goals this season, but this one was particularly important. The only goal of a tight match against Hibs, which keeps them in the title hunt.

Bayley Hutchison (Aberdeen): Scored a hat-trick, adding to her already impressive haul this season. She uses her strength to great effect, and was key as Aberdeen turned things around in the second half against Dundee United.

Murphy Agnew (Celtic): Enjoyed her first match at Celtic Park with a hat-trick as she continued her recent goal-scoring exploits in style. Showed great persistence and is a natural finisher.

Celtic manager Elena Sadiku:

"It was job done, it was good to be at Celtic Park, score five goals, we maybe should have scored one more.

"Overall a clean sheet, I thought we controlled the game form the start to the end so I'm really happy with that."

Hearts manager Eva Olid:

"It was a hard day, I think we had a really bad day and they were so good.

"With these teams you cannot commit mistakes and we committed a lot of mistakes.

"It's not easy playing Rangers and Celtic in five days but we need to analyse what we did wrong so it doesn't happen again. We can lose but not in this way."

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Dundee United manager Suzy Shepherd:

"Obviously the scoreline is frustrating.

"I thought it took time for us to get going but I thought once we did we were pressing really well, we were causing them problems, we scored a good goal.

"We went in one up at half-time and nothing really needed to change, we had to keep doing what we were doing.

"We lost a couple of goals and the heads just go down, we panicked. We can't have these spells for 10 or 15 minutes where we're losing three and four goals."

Aberdeen manager Clinton Lancaster:

"I thought we were in control for most of the game and I thought we played some really good football but we just didn't take our chances in the first half.

"We were slightly off it with our press, we gave them a little bit more time on the ball in the first half but in the second we took our chances.

"Credit to Dundee United, they've got some good players in that team."

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Hamilton Accies manager Robert Watson:

"I think the game has been decided on a 10 minute spell where we were really poor.

"I think it was a game of very few chances from both teams but when we lost the goal we seemed to compound it by losing another very quickly.

"All of us need to take more responsibility in those moments to get through them because I don't think there's three goals between the teams."

Spartans manager Jack Beesley:

"The first half was very tight, it looked like a game where both teams knew what was a stake.

"Albeit a little fortuitously, it was good to score a goal early in the second half and you could see that give our girls a bit more belief and a bit less fear.

"I thought thereafter we were good value for our win. We controlled parts of the second half with and without the ball."

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Motherwell manager Paul Brownlie:

"I'm delighted with the three points against a tough side. Montrose have done really well but I was delighted with the level of character shown.

"To be fair to Montrose they made it really difficult for us but it is a big result for us.

"Middle to front we looked a constant threat, created numerous opportunities as well.

"We're doing really well, we're in a positive place at the moment with five wins out of six, especially in this league where the competition is so tough."

Montrose manager Craig Feroz:

"Motherwell are a far better team than they were at the start of the season.

"Being able to take in players from Motherwell and Hibs is something we're not able to do and something I'm quite jealous of and those players made a real difference on Sunday.

"We were bottom of the league six weeks ago and we're nine points clear of the bottom now so I have got nothing but praise for my side. I'll never not be proud of my team."

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Partick Thistle assistant manager Ross Stormonth:

"It's been a tough week.

"I thought the girls were incredible, their workrate, their desire, every memeber of the squad deserves huge credit.

"In the first half I thought we had a couple of moments where we should have maybe taken the lead and given Rangers a problem.

"I thought at 1-1 we were in and we could maybe go and get something out of the game."

Rangers manager Jo Potter:

"We said that we wanted a reaction [after Wednesday], we knew we needed three points, we knew it would be a tough place to come but the main thing was three points and getting that one in the bag was big for us.

"We had to remain calm and that was the most pleasing thing for me. I said to the players even with 10 minutes to go there's no rush, there's no panic we'll always create half a chance and that's all we need.

"It was important for us not to let the anxiety build as the game went on because I think we did that on Wednesday so it was good to see that we learned from that."

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Hibs manager Grant Scott:

"I'm a bit disappointed, I thought there wasn't much between the teams. I thought we matched City's quality with our own quality at times but probably just didn't replicate it enough.

"We've given some cheap goals away in the last two or three games but we could do with putting the ball in the net when we get those opportunities.

"That is the small margins that these games are sometimes decided on but we have to be better."

Glasgow City manager Leanne Ross:

"Every three points is vital now, coming close to the end of the season.

"Hibs always make it difficult, they're organised, they work really hard in possession as well.

"For us to get that early goal and then see the game out, I'm really pleased with the three points.

"For us to manage the game in the second half especially I thought was really good."

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