Scottish Women's Football

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Scotland interim head coach Michael McArdle: "I'm proud, first and foremost.

"I'm not happy not winning the game. We set up with a game plan to control the game without the ball. The game plan worked well in certain aspects, but maybe in the final third we need to improve in those areas.

"Plenty of positives in regard to the teamwork and identity. I have seen glimmers of the identity, which is great over a short period of time.

"I'm delighted for [Emma Lawton] personally. I'm delighted for us all that work with her at club and country.

"The game plan was always to frustrate Netherlands. The main thing from us all was keeping that communication. We have improved our communication and leadership on the pitch.

"It was a difficult game in Austria. To not take a point from the game is more frustrating now that it was on Saturday. There is huge steps being taken with the group, it is exciting.

"We are experimental and brave. We will take risks, especially against the top nations. That is how we will learn."

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at Hampden Park

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If onlookers of a Scottish persuasion were offered this result pre-match, you would imagine a fair chunk of folk would have taken it.

After an at times disjointed performance against Austria on Friday, there were fears the Dutch could run roughshod on the Hampden turf.

However, while Andries Jonkers' side utterly dominated proceedings, Scotland still managed to give them a wee fright.

The midfield was by-passed at the Josko Arena, but there was much more action for Caroline Weir and Kirsty Maclean this time. Meanwhile, out wide, Kirsty Hanson and Lauren Davidson were utilised.

Up until Emma Lawton's opener, Lee Gibson's goal was peppered with chances by world-class players.

Whether it was Vivianne Miedema, Jill Roord or Esmee Burgts - who scored in both games against Scotland in their last Nations League A campaign - it was a mystery as to how they had not converted.

For all their class, though, they were not clinical - so often Scotland's problem.

Lawton unleashed her instinctive effort with venom. On her first start, Eilidh Adams got herself about and, like on Friday, Hanson missed a gilt-edged chance.

As Scotland must know by now, it is small margins at this level. However, it was better than it has been against elite opposition for a fair while.

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Her first Scotland goal on only her second senior start, it's been some ride for Emma Lawton so far and she's only just getting started.

Emma Watson says Scotland have the "hunger, desire and fight" to beat the Netherlands in their Nations League fixture.

Scotland's opponents are currently 10th in the world rankings, reaching the World Cup quarter-finals in 2023 and winning the European Championships in 2017.

"You would call it on paper, Netherlands, the team, the players they have, like they're a top, top side," said Watson on the BBC's Behind the Goals podcast.

"But what differentiates us from other nations is that we are Scottish and we've got that hunger, we've got that desire, we've got that fight in us that other nations don't have.

"That's what makes us us, and if we bring that to the game, we can make it so difficult playing against these top teams because personally I don't think they can do it.

"But we can, they don't have the heart like we do, so I think we're into the game and that'll be massive for us."

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland

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When Lee Gibson made her Scotland debut over seven years ago, Scotland team-mate Mia McAulay was still in primary school.

So it's safe to say the goalkeeper is one of the more experienced members of Michael McArdle's squad.

The Glasgow City shot-stopper survived McArdle's wholesale changes, where nine members of the squad who took on Finland in the failed Euro 2025 play-off final were omitted from this group to take on Austria and the Netherlands.

Six uncapped players were named - including McAulay, who has since returned to Rangers - so what advice does the 33-year-old have for the fresh faces in camp?

"I'd just say embrace it," Gibson said before Scotland host the Dutch on Tuesday night.

"There's nothing better than coming into your national team, especially the A squad.

"I've been fortunate enough to be around it for quite a significant period of time now, and you don't get sick of it.

"There's nothing better than meeting up with the girls that come here. A lot of them become your really close friends and second family."

While the family feel runs throughout the squad, Gibson added the "goalkeeper's union here is excellent," after she was recently replaced by Eartha Cumings, before returning between the Scotland sticks at Josko Arena in Friday's defeat.

Gibson started the first leg of Scotland's play-off semi-final against Hungary, and kept a clean sheet, but was surprising replaced by Rosengard's Cumings for the return leg as well as the final against Finland.

Gibson admitted it was "disappointing" but says Cumings "deserved the opportunity just as much".

"Eartha had had an incredible season, and I back everybody that goes on that pitch that they're going to do a job. Eartha played really well," Gibson said.

"You need to make sure you can be resilient and try and push past that. I'm thankful that I've had another opportunity."

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Rangers defender Nicola Docherty has been called up to the Scotland squad for Tuesday night's Nations League visit of Netherlands, with Amy Muir and Mia McAulay dropping out.

Docherty, 32, has 63 caps and was a regular under previous head coach Pedro Martinez Losa before being omitted by interim boss Michael McArdle for the opening Nations League double-header.

The Scots are looking to bounce back at Hampden after starting the campaign with a 1-0 defeat in Austria on Friday night.

Scotland goalkeeper Lee Gibson says they want to emulate Steve Clarke's side when the Netherlands visit Hampden on Tuesday.

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at Hampden Park

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The "vibrancy" brought by Scotland's fresh faces has helped keep the positivity flowing in camp, despite defeat in Austria, says interim head coach Michael McArdle.

The Scots were defeated 1-0 in their opening Nations League A game on Friday night, but will have the chance to get off the mark on Tuesday night against the Netherlands.

McArdle handed debuts to Emma Lawton, Freya Gregory and Eilidh Adams - as well as a first competitive start to Amy Muir - at Josko Arena and their "fresh mindset" has kept the group focussed.

"They're fresh, they don't have any burden from previous experiences," explained McArdle.

"They come in with a fresh mindset and a fresh focus, which is what we need.

"That's something that we all need to keep an eye on in the longer term process, so it is a lot easier when you've got that vibrancy around as well."

McArdle is under no illusions Tuesday's test against the Dutch will be " a challenge" but he and his team have a game-plan for success.

"We expect a difficult game," he added.

"So, structurally, it's very important, to make sure that we give ourselves a chance to control the game without the ball and then have those moments going forward, but we've got a game plan to win the game and that will mean those moments are difficult against a very top nation."

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Hibs manager Grant Scott has signed a new two-year deal at the Meadowbank club.

Appointed for his second spell in Edinburgh back in 2023, Scott guided Hibs to a top six finish in his first season back at the club and has made significant progress in the current campaign.

Scott's side sit joint on points at the top of the SWPL table alongside Rangers, Glasgow City and Celtic as they prepare for the split and have secured a place in next month's SWPL Cup final at Fir Park against Rangers.

"I am delighted to extend my time at the club and I am really excited for the new few years," Scott said.

"We have a great squad this season with all still to play for. The progress made has been there for all to see and I am looking forward to what we can achieve together as a group."

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at Hampden Park

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Michael McArdle addressed the media before Scotland's first home game in the Nations League against the Netherlands on Tuesday night.

Here are the key things he said:

• Reflecting on Friday night's defeat in Austria, the interim head coach said there were "plenty positives behind-the-scenes as the massive, blind, first steps in a new journey" were made.

• It "wasn't a pretty game" but Scotland "lacked the clinical edge in both boxes".

• Easier to keep the positivity up despite defeat due to debutants and fresh faces who "don't carry any burden from previous experiences".

• McArdle expects a "difficult game against a top nation" and expects to "suffer without the ball". He added "Structurally," it's very important on Tuesday to gain any control.

• "Self-belief" is key to Scotland finally being able to end their struggle in front of goal, and having a "determined, clarity of mind" when faced with goal. The interim head coach believes "huge strides" have been made in doing that.

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Scotland debutant Emma Lawton is "loving every minute" of her "surreal" season, which started off at part-time Partick Thistle.

The 23-year-old made her international debut in the defeat to Austria on Friday night, having been called up for the first time thanks to her fine first season with Celtic.

"It was definitely a proud moment for me to get my first start but, disappointed with the result," the full-back said.

"I was actually thinking about it on the bus here that six months ago I was playing part-time football and now I've played in the Champions League, I'm at a full-time club and now I'm playing for Scotland.

"It's been surreal, but I'm just loving every minute of it."

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"Frustrated" Kirsty Hanson is "so disappointed" after Scotland kicked off their Nations League campaign with defeat in Austria.

"We wanted to start off the campaign on a win, which we didn't get," the winger said.

"We should have finished our chances. I'm really obviously disappointed in myself. I had two chances and I didn't finish them.

"It's about small margins at this level, so I'm obviously really frustrated with myself, but we had other chances as well and it's just about taking them.

"They had probably one chance and they scored it, and it's just about small margins."

The Aston Villa winger added "it might take some time," with the new-look squad, "but we can't obviously use that as an excuse".

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Interim head coach Michael McArdle: "Disappointed with the result, performance-wise, there's areas we can improve as well.

"We know that ourselves, we're already in reflection immediately after the game, particularly transitional moments in the centre of the pitch, but, it's fine margins, we created plenty of chances.

"We're just missing that cutting-edge, that bit of belief in front of goal."

On losing Sophie Howard: "You always miss Sophie's experience in communication. However, I thought Leah did add to the game as well, especially the bravery on the ball in the build-up.

"That's the path we're on in this journey just now, it's the change within the squad and some freshness, and we do need that depth.

"To see Leah coming on with the debutants as well, coming off the pitch and affecting the game also is really positive."

On leading Scotland: "Personally, it'll be a proud moment when I get the chance to reflect. Obviously, the result is the matter of fact just now, so at the moment I'm disappointed with the result, but I'll get an opportunity myself personally to reflect on something."

On the Netherlands: "It's at Hampden, so I'm looking forward to being home and doing my best. Obviously, we've kept our eye on Netherlands over the last few weeks as well, so just a reset on the flight home tonight and then prepare for work over the weekend towards the game on Tuesday.

"This was probably a game where you would have been eyeing up three points, - you do in every game - but this was the first one you wanted to get off the mark."

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland at Josko Arena, Ried im Innkreis

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Despite a new boss in the dugout and plenty of fresh faces among the squad, Scotland's latest loss will feel all too familiar.

Scotland's backline, albeit very young and inexperienced, gave the ball away cheaply and were far from convincing when it came to clearing their lines. There were a fair few slack passes in the midfield too, which put them under even more pressure throughout the first half.

They started better in the second but as the half wore on they looked less and less like they would be able to salvage something.

Arguably this was the easiest of the opponents in the group - with the Netherlands and Germany making up the remainder of A1 - and once again it's looking like an uphill battle for the Scots, who parted with Pedro Martinez Losa at the end of the unsuccessful Euro 2025 qualifying campaign.

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The post-split fixtures have been announced in the SWPL, with the the big three avoiding each other on the final day of the season.

However, Rangers will end their campaign with a visit from title challengers Hibernian, who are aiming for their first SWPL title since 2007.

The final round of top six fixtures, which sees Celtic welcome Motherwell and Glasgow City host Hearts, will be played on Sunday 18 May.

Meanwhile in the bottom six, Montrose will be hoping they can accrue enough points to drag Spartans and Aberdeen into the relegation zone - which features three teams before next year's re-formatting of the league.

On the final day of the season, the Mighty Mo are at home to Dundee United, Queen's Park host Aberdeen, and Spartans welcome Partick Thistle.

SWPL Managing Director, Fiona McIntyre, said: "The ScottishPower Women's Premier League has become renowned in recent years for tight title races and incredible final day drama, so we are delighted to reveal the post-split fixtures today which set the stage for what we anticipate will be another epic race to the title.

"Incredibly the 2024/2025 season looks set to eclipse anything we have seen before, with an unprecedented four clubs currently on 51 points after 21 matches."

Interim Scotland head coach Michael McArdle speaks to BBC Scotland about the new players in the group and how he feels ahead of his first match in charge.

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

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"Energy and directness" that's what Scotland interim manager Michael McArdle is expecting from first time call up Emma Lawton.

And the full-back has had a pretty incredible few months.

Lawton signed for Celtic in September, making the step up from part-time Partick Thistle to the professional Scottish champions.

Fast forward two weeks and the defender started, and scored, in the Glasgow side's final Champions League qualifier.

She has been called up for Scotland at Under-23 level, but this camp is her first foray into the senior set up.

Former Scotland international Leanne Crichton told the BBC's Behind the Goals podcast: "I'm excited to see the likes of Emma Lawton in there.

"She's in such a fine bit of form just now and she's a big reason Celtic are at the top of the table, joint with the other four. Her performances this season, at Champions League level as well, she's kept those consistency levels.

"I'm excited to see her. It's probably been a position as well, right wing-back, that has changed an awful lot over the years for Scotland. Performance wise, I just don't feel there's been consistency.

"It's probably up for grabs and if you really go and stamp your authority you can make it your own. I know Emma will be looking to try and do that."

The full-back clearly isn't phased by big occasions. Just 10 days after joining Elena Sadiku's side, Lawton came off the bench in the crucial first leg Champions League play-off tie against Vorskla.

She clearly impressed and was given the nod to start in the second leg, getting Celtic off the mark in the second half with a cracking goal to put Sadiku's side in the driving seat for the remainder of the half.

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

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Interim Scotland manager Michael McArdle has been speaking to the media as his side prepare to face Austria in their Nations League opener on Friday.

Here are the main points:

• McArdle says the nine changes to the squad from the defeat to Finland are an attempt to "freshen up" ahead of a new campaign.

• Says he's "disappointed" to lose Erin Cuthbert through injury but is looking forward to getting her back in the squad for future games.

• On Emma Lawton specifically, the interim boss likes the fullback's "energy and directness" on the pitch as well as in the training ground.

• Says Austria will likely be "unpredictable" given their change in head coach but is fully focused on how Scotland perform and preparing as well as possible.

• McArdle wants to bring "energy" back to the supporters and the squad after the Euro 2025 disappointment and insists it's "down to us" to reconnect with the fans.

• Says it's a "proud moment" for him to take charge but is mainly focused on supporting the players "as best as possible".

• "Relishing" the chance to come up against top opposition in League A.

• Adds he has "an excellent leadership group" as Caroline Weir prepares to take the armband.

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

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Caroline Weir says the first Scotland camp of 2025 has felt "like the first day of school" with six uncapped players joining the ranks.

Interim head coach Michael McArdle has brought in ten different players to the squad that suffered defeat against Finland in their two-legged Euro 2025 play-off final at the tail end of last year.

Celtic defender Emma Lawton, Hearts midfielder Eilidh Shore, Hibernian forward Eilidh Adams, goalkeeper Erin Clachers, winger Mia McAulay and Newcastle United midfielder Freya Gregory - who represented England at youth level - have all been called up, none of whom have earned a senior cap for the Scots.

However, the Real Madrid midfielder says even the more experienced players are feeling the nerves as a "new cycle" kicks in: "It's a bit of both [nerves and excitement],

"Even senior players coming in, it's all new for us as well. A lot of new faces, it's not quite like the first day of school but it's kind of similar in some ways.

"We had a welcome on Monday night and it was very clear about how the week was going to look in terms of training and just how Michael likes to work.

"So for players, that's key. Things being as clear as possible and Michael's definitely tried to do that from the outset.

"We're excited and I think it always feels best when we're on the pitch and get a couple of training sessions done and everyone starts to relax a little bit."