Scottish Women's Football

Eva Olid says Hearts are a "better side" than in their previous meetings with Hibs.

The Hearts boss told club media, external her team have "more confidence" going into Friday night's derby because of the improvements they've made this season.

Only three points separates Olid's side in fourth from their Edinburgh rivals in fifth as they prepare to face off at Oriam.

"From our point of view, I think we are stronger, whereas I believe Hibs are more or less the same [compared to the last derby]," Olid said.

"They were a good team at the start of the season, and they are still a good team now.

“In terms of us, I believe we are better now, than we were in the previous two derbies, which I believe will give us more confidence going into the match.

“Playing at Oriam, is our home. It is where we feel comfortable. It will be a sold-out crowd and we’re looking forward to having as many of our fans there supporting us as possible.”

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Jo Potter says Rangers' success this season is "not a fluke".

Potter's side are currently top of the SWPL table, one point ahead of both Celtic and Glasgow City, and have already lifted the league cup.

Potter says she's relishing the challenge that comes with being top of the table as they prepare to face City on Sunday.

"I love it," she said.

"The position that we're in says a lot. We've earned this, to be in this position. It is not just by chance, you don't just fluke yourself to this point, having a trophy in the cabinet already.

"We're not naïve to the fact that it's nowhere near done and it's the toughest part of the season now but it's something that we have to relish and enjoy.

"Everybody wants to play in these games so that's the moment where we need to puff out our chests and take on the challenge."

Image source, SNS

Image source, SNS

Ava Easdon has been recalled from her loan spell at Partick Thistle by parent club Glasgow City.

City confirmed the keeper will be eligible to feature against Rangers on Sunday.

The 17-year-old joined Brian Graham's side at the start of the current campaign and had been a mainstay in the starting lineup.

Thistle are now left with just Rangers loanee Megan Cunningham, who will be ineligible to face her parent club next weekend.

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Natasha Flint has named the SWPL's player of the month after easing back into life at Celtic.

The on-loan Liverpool striker scored four goals in March as Elena Sadiku's side prevailed in huge encounters with their title rivals, beating both Rangers and Glasgow City last month.

Flint was integral in those clashes, scoring a brace in the Old Firm derby, as well as the second in their 2-1 win over City.

The 27-year-old saw off Rangers' Mia McAulay, Motherwell midfielder Louisa Boyes and Jade McLaren of Montrose to claim the award.

Rangers' assistant coach Jay Bradford insists the side "have to be ruthless" in upcoming games.

Speaking to RangersTV, external as they prepare to welcome Glasgow City on Sunday, Bradford was full of praise for the players and knows they're up to the challenge.

“The players are a credit to the club and we are excited to get everybody back in and focus on the games that we have got coming up," she said.

“All we can ask is that they give their best, I know it sounds really cliche and cheesy but that is all we want from them and they give us that. On the back of that gets us results.”

“Sunday's game is massive and we have to be ruthless.

“When we have got teams on the ropes we have to go for it and we have to keep our foot on the gas because if we let up for a second they'll be teams ready to catch us.

“We are ready for that challenge and we are relishing being right up there.

“We were actually saying with the staff it seems like a lifetime ago that we played City. We have had to switch our brain back onto them and the threats that they pose. They have improved since the last time that we played them.

“There will be some sticky moments in there I'm sure because it is a really tough league, but we will be ready for that and we will come out of the other side of it.”

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Glasgow City manager Leanne Ross says governing bodies must be doing more to protect player welfare.

The SWPL returns this weekend following the latest international break.

City take on Rangers on Sunday before taking on Partick Thistle on Wednesday and then travelling to Hibs the following weekend.

"It becomes difficult because we lose a lot of our players who have gone off on their travels," Ross said.

"We're still just getting some of them back now so preparations are difficult for the game on Sunday but it's nice now to have time to focus with the team on the games that are coming up.

"It's another difficult one with a three game week coming off the international break so I really do think that's something we need to try and address as much as possible so we can look after the welfare of the players.

"We've got a lot of games to fit into such a short space of time so it's up to the league and other governing bodies of the game to really look to find a structure that works for every league so that the players are in the best condition to play in the games.

"The more injuries that we have, the more we break the players down then we lose the quality in the games and that's the most important thing, that the players are able to give everything in every single game they play."

Image source, SNS

Image source, SNS

Partick Thistle manager Brian Graham has been handed an immediate three-match suspension following a hearing disciplinary hearing earlier on Thursday.

The Thistle boss picked up two yellow cards in his side's game against Hibs last month and will now be banned from the dugout for their next three games.

Graham will miss the visit from Celtic, the away tie against Glasgow City and the home game against Rangers.

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Grant Scott is expecting a tight encounter on Friday night when his Hibs side travel to face Hearts.

The Hibs boss said that although every game is important, this one has a "wee bit of added spice" given it's an Edinburgh derby.

"The derby sells itself," Scott told club media, external.

"We're the closest rivals in the city, on top of that we're both evenly matched in the league, both fighting for that fourth spot.

"It's an important game but they all are although this one has a wee bit of added spice because it's a derby.

"The previous two derbies have been fine margins, not much separated the teams and that's carried on throughout the season when you look at all the stats, it's very close so it all points to a tough, tight test."

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Glasgow City manager Leanne Ross has been speaking to the media ahead of Sunday's trip to face Rangers.

Here are the main points:

• The Glasgow City boss said she's still not got her full squad back from international duty but insists they'll work hard to be ready come Sunday.

• Ahead of a three-game week coming off the back of the international break, Ross said the fixture congestion is something that needs to be addressed.

• City are expecting a "very difficult game" against Rangers on Sunday but insists they've "done their homework" on their opponents.

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Aberdeen captain Hannah Stewart is hopeful finishing seventh in the SWPL will help with player recruitment in the summer.

The Dons are currently in seventh spot but only three points clear of Motherwell below them.

“If we went back to the start of the season and someone said we would be in seventh at the split I think we would have taken it," she told club media, external.

"The aim was to stay in the league this season and I think we’ve done that now and we want to consolidate that seventh position.

"We were disappointed to miss out on the top six, but we are motivated for the remaining games to finish well and with as many points as possible.

"Finishing higher up the league will hopefully raise our profile in terms of attracting players but also to persuade players that are already here to sign on again."

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Hibs captain Shannon McGregor says Hibs "need" all three points from their clash against Hearts on Friday.

There's only three points separating Hearts in fourth from their Edinburgh rivals in fifth.

"We held Rangers at 1-0 until about 70 minutes so I think that was a great performance from us and I think we need to build on that for Friday," McGregor told HibsTV, external.

"We can see from the last few seasons we are getting closer to the top teams and I think the girls can see that as well which gives us confidence.

"We all know the Edinburgh derby is one of the biggest games in the league and we also know it's a league game and we need three points.

"We need these three points, the top six is going to be hard. We just need to keep competing and get as many points as we can."

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Erin Cuthbert says a much-needed Euro 2025 qualifying victory over Slovakia gives Scotland "a good stepping stone to kick on".

Pedro Martinez Losa's side were without a win in eight competitive games, but Chelsea midfielder Cuthbert provided for Sophie Howard to head in a crucial winner at Hampden to ease growing pressure.

Scotland now have four points from two qualifiers and sit second in their group.

"There's been a lot going against us at the minute," Cuthbert said. "We're missing a couple of players, but the players we have here got the job done.

"Four points after two games is not bad going and it gives us a good stepping stone to kick on now.

"It's never ideal when there's a lot going against you, a lot of negative talk in the media, but it's up to us to turn it around and get the results."

On her international captain Rachel Corsie reaching 150 caps, Cuthbert added: "That's something to be celebrated, 150 is just unbelievable."