Scottish Women's Football

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

Two games, 180 minutes of football. That's all that stands between Hibernian and a first SWPL title in 18 years.

Back then, Kim Little was still kicking about in the green and white. Current star striker Eilidh Adams had just turned three. Celtic and Rangers were nowhere to be seen.

The landscape in Scottish women's football has drastically changed, but the capital club have been an ever-present. Now they're closing in on a piece of history of their own.

It's all in Grant Scott's side's hands. Wins against Celtic and Rangers and the trophy is theirs. If only it was that easy.

"It feels really exciting, brilliant in fact," Scott told BBC Scotland.

"I'm incredibly proud of the players, but I'm also really scared of what could happen with all the different angles to it.

"We're trying to keep all of our emotions in check just now. We're two 90 minutes of football away from determining where we finish.

"That's the simplicity and beauty of the game."

A straightforward as it sounds, Scott never envisaged a manic week in May like this one.

"I don't want to sound too harsh on the players at this point, but I probably had different expectations from them than probably even Stewart and Joelle, who probably had a more positive outlook than I had for the team," he added.

"But we've surpassed even their vision of where we would be, so full credit to everyone involved.

"I think we would have bitten your hand off at the start of the season to be given this opportunity, and that's all it is at the moment. If we fall short, it would be so disappointing, but we've got every chance.

"I keep saying to the players, 'why not? Why shouldn't it be us?'.

"There's a lot of work to do and we've got some really difficult opponents to play, but all of the emotions right now come from where we are."

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Rachel Corsie hopes to be involved in Scotland's upcoming Women's Nations League fixtures after returning from injury at Aston Villa.

Corsie, 35, had been national captain prior to her long-term absence, which included a period out recovering from knee surgery.

Villa announced last week that Corsie will be leaving the club at the end of the season, but the defender got some minutes as the WSL club completed their season at home with a 3-1 win against Brighton.

The former Glasgow City player told the BBC's Behind the Goals podcast that "there are no big plans to share" regarding her club future.

"Short-term, I'm just going to keep up training," said Corsie. "I'll probably just certainly keep ticking over for a little while. I will take a break. My body is desperate for a break.

"Going through a rehab for a whole year, there's been very, very, very few times I've actually had even just two days off in a row. I'm looking forward to that and just a bit of time."

Scotland face Austria at home on 30 May, which will be new head coach Melissa Andreatta's first game in charge, followed by a trip to face the Netherlands on 3 June.

And 154-times capped Corsie said: "I'd said last week one of my biggest ambitions was to try and be available for the national team."

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Jenna Fife (Rangers): Made a brilliant save to deny an almost certain Celtic goal early in the second half. Also made some important takes under pressure. Played a big part in her sides vital win.

Nicola Docherty (Rangers): Coped well with everything that came her way. Made some crucial clearances and blocks and was willing to get forward and set up attacks.

Cassie Cowper (Montrose): Another big goal from this player as they're doing all they can to avoid the drop this season. Cowper's free kick earned three important points.

Caley Gibb (Hibs): This wasn't Hibs at their best, but Gibb was a bright spark. She was on point with her deliveries and covered well defensively.

Nicole Kozlova (Glasgow City): Scored a lovely, and important, goal to grab a point from this one. It's points dropped in the title race, but a point is better than none with potential twists and turns to come in final two games.

Chelsea Cornet (Rangers): Battled for everything in midfield, whether it was breaking up play to regain possession or chasing the ball. Was very influential.

Mya Christie (Spartans): A sublime finish to seal all three points for Spartans to move them further away from that third relegation spot. A great goal and a significant win.

Monica Forsyth (Hearts): Set up Hearts' opener, and scored their final goal in what was a good showing from the side who have nothing but pride to play for.

Kerry Beattie (Aberdeen): Two goals to seal a significant win for Aberdeen as they secured their place in the top flight for next season. She's proved a key player for Aberdeen during this loan spell.

Kirsty Howat (Rangers): Scored the only goal of the match and what a key goal it could be. A huge win as it puts Rangers back up to second and firmly in the title mix.

Brogan Hay (Rangers): Was busy all afternoon showing great trickery and skill to either keep hold of the ball or regain it. On a different day she could have been among the assists and goals.

Watch the best of Sunday's action in the bottom six of the Scottish Women's Premier League, including a victory that secured Aberdeen's safety from relegation as well as important wins for Montrose and Spartans.

Watch the best of Sunday's action in the top six of the Scottish Women's Premier League, including a draw between top two Hibernian and Glasgow City - and a crucial derby victory for Rangers.

Image source, Colin Poultney/SWPL

Celtic head coach Elena Sadiku: "It's a tough one to take. I thought Rangers' goal was poor defending from us.

"In the second half we had two really good chances to score and that could look a little bit different.

"This has been the story of the season, it's sloppy goals we let in and when we have chances we don't have the luck or the quality."

Rangers manager Jo Potter: "I thought as a whole we were outstanding. Our quality went up another level and we know we can do that we just haven't seen it consistently enough as we want.

"We needed to bring that, it was a high pressure performance and the players stood up to that. I thought we definitely deserved the three points."

Image source, Colin Poultney/SWPL

Dundee United manager Suzy Shepherd: "I don't think we deserved anything out the game.

"We worked so hard to win the ball back and then we just gave it away. From the first whistle to the last whistle we weren't able to retain the ball or secure the ball further up the pitch which caused us problems the whole time."

Aberdeen manager Scott Booth: "We're absolutely delighted. I'm really happy for the players and the staff.

"It's been a really tough season for the players, they've gone through a lot so it's a really nice reward that we can make sure we stay in the league. I'm really proud of the players."

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Motherwell manager Paul Brownlie: "I thought in the first 30 minutes we were absolutely magnificent, we played with a real purpose and created some unbelievable opportunities to a point where we could have been three or four up.

"We need to take our opportunities at this level, if you don't you get punished. I'd have loved to have seen the players score to give them a wee bit of belief but now it's onto the next one."

Hearts manager Eva Olid: "The first minutes were a little difficult, Motherwell are always difficult.

"We couldn't find space in the final third but when we scored the first goal I felt the game changed and we could enjoy playing more. We kept the ball well and that is what we want to try to do."

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Partick Thistle assistant manager Ross Stormonth: "We just didn't score enough goals, didn't score any chances.

"I don't remember our goalkeeper having to make a save after the early goal and we created more chances than we have done in the last couple of games. We just didn't score enough goals, that's the bottom line."

Montrose manager Craig Feroz: "I'm absolutely delighted, it's not easy to come down here at the best of times but I thought we were outstanding.

"It was a battle, we expected that battle and thankfully we got through."

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Spartans manager Jack Beesley: "I'm delighted with the three points, I thought we were probably good value for it and I think we created enough openings to secure the game before the point we did.

"But at this stage of the season any way you get the three points is a good result."

Queen's Park assistant manager David Brownlie: "I thought in the first half we controlled a lot of the moments, we were really good in possession.

" It was just the final action for us, we need to do a lot better. The build moments were great it's what we do after that when we reach the final third, I don't think we had a lot of attempts on goal but fair play to Spartans they made it challenging for us."

Image source, Malcolm Mackenzie/SWPL

Hibernian manager Grant Scott: "Overall on the balance of play it's probably the fairest result.

"We got ourselves into a position at half-time, probably fortuitously and then the second half became a bit of a battle.

"I'm trying to digest it all. It's two points lost certainly but I don't know it would have been fair if we'd won the match. So we'll take the point and we'll move on.

"We've got another tough game on Wednesday, we're going to focus on ourselves and hopefully we can keep producing."

Glasgow City manager Leanne Ross: "I thought it was a really poor game from our perspective, especially in the first half.

"We gave away sloppy set plays, it's cost us all season against Hibs, and they've not created any chances outside of that [today] and that's probably the most disappointing thing, it's taken us until the second half to put our foot on the ball and play.

"In the first half we played into Hibs' hands, you can't give them set plays to go ahead in the game and then it's an uphill battle from there."

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, Colin Poultney/SWPL

The clock is ticking down to the final SWPL games of the season and it's still anyone's title to play for.

Here are a few things to keep an eye on this weekend.

Derby decider

According to Rangers manager Jo Potter, Sunday's Old Firm derby against Celtic is a "must win" if her side want to keep their title (and treble) hopes alive.

As things stand, Rangers are five points off Hibs at the top with three games left. They also have a Scottish Cup final to think about at the end of the month.

"These games are always massive," Potter said of Sunday's derby.

"Each game is going to be huge from now until the end of the season. It's no different to what it's been in the last few. It's just getting a lot closer now and we've got to make sure that we're doing everything we can to take three points.

"One result can change the outcome of a whole dynamic."

Celtic are mathematically out of the race after their 3-1 defeat to Glasgow City last weekend but still in with a very slim shout of a European spot - they need to win all their remaining games and need the teams above them to lose.

"We want to prove that we're much better than this season has shown," manager Elena Sadiku said.

"That is something that is going to be very important, we've got to play for pride and show character in the last three games."

The meetings between the this season have been close affairs.

Last month at Broadwood, Amy Gallacher salvaged a point for Celtic when she cancelled out Kirsty Howat's early strike. The game before that Rangers edged 3-2 while the first derby of the season, back in October, ended 2-2.

There's never a dull game between these two.

Top-of-table clash

Potter will also be keeping a close eye on the early game at Meadowbank between top two Hibs and Glasgow City.

Could it be one of the games where the eventual winners will look back on as where the title was won?

Currently, Hibs are three points ahead of Sunday's opponents with nine still to play for.

These two have met three times already this season, Hibs have won two and City came out on top in the other, but this weekend there's even more at stake.

Victory for Hibs would move them six points clear with six to play for and would put Grant Scott's side firmly in the driving seat for the remaining matches against Celtic and Rangers.

A win for City would put them top, thanks to their superior goal difference, before their final two matches against Motherwell and Hearts.

Montrose continue survival fight

Aberdeen fought back to snatch a point in Wednesday night's 2-2 draw at Pittodrie in another setback to Montrose's SWPL survival hopes.

Craig Feroz's side occupy the final relegation spot - Dundee United and Queen's Park have already had their drop to SWPL 2 confirmed - and are two points off Spartans in safety.

They're up against a Partick Thistle side who've had a pretty turbulent season and are heading into Sunday's game off the back of a 2-0 defeat to the Dons last weekend.

A win for Montrose makes things very interesting for the final three games. It would move them two points behind Thistle and, depending on results elsewhere, out of the drop zone.

How to follow on BBC

There's two games live across the BBC this weekend. The big one at the top between Hibs and Glasgow City is live on BBC Alba, it kicks off at 12:10 BST.

Later, Celtic v Rangers is also on the BBC Alba channel. It kicks off at 16:10 BST.

You can also watch both games on BBC iPlayer as well as the BBC Sport website and app and there will be live text coverage of all of Sunday's games there too.

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Glasgow City goalkeeper Lee Gibson believes her side's experience in tight title races can help them triumph in a "crazy" SWPL season, with a vital match against league leaders Hibs looming on Sunday.

Hibs are three points ahead of City in second with three matches of the season remaining.

Given City's superior goal difference, a win for Leanne Ross' side this weekend could prove crucial as they try to win their 17th SWPL crown.

City seized the title with a stoppage-time strike on the final day of the 2022-23 season before Celtic pipped Rangers to glory in similar circumstances last term.

Gibson is not underestimating the task at hand, but insists City will "do everything" to make sure the trophy ends up in their hands.

"Every game when it comes to the split is massive and Sunday is a big one," Gibson said.

"It's away from home, against a team that's been flying high all season. Hibs have been league leaders for a long time this season so we respect what they've done.

"We're fortunate that we've had experience over the years, we've seen it come down to the final day in the last two seasons so we're going to do everything we can to make sure the title is ours.

"In my time there was a big rivalry between City and Hibs and the split is crazy and Rangers are still in it as well. As Glasgow City we need to make sure we come out on top."

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Scotland and Rangers defender Leah Eddie is excited for a "fresh start" under new national team head coach Melissa Andreatta.

Pedro Martinez Losa was dismissed as Scotland boss after the failure to reach Euro 2025 - the third major tournament in a row they have missed.

Former Australia assistant Andreatta was appointed his permanent successor last month after interim head coach Mick McArdle had overseen four straight defeats.

Scotland face Austria and the Netherlands in their remaining Nations League fixtures in just over three weeks and Eddie is looking forward to a "clean slate" under Andreatta.

"It's an exciting time for everyone involved," Eddie told BBC Scotland.

"She is coming in full of energy and wanting to do well so hopefully she can implement what she wants and we can start getting the results that we want.

"Everyone's really looking forward to getting to know her. It's a clean slate.

"I've not heard much about her or worked with her or know people who have worked with her which I think could be a good thing. But I think it's such an exciting time for the national team.

"A fresh start was maybe exactly what the national team needed and focusing on each camp at a time.

"Getting her in the door and hopefully everyone's on board with the way she wants to play and bring success. I'm sure if we do that everything will be fine."

Scotland captain Rachel Corsie feared she wouldn't be able to run again let alone play football as she struggled to fight back from long-term injury.

The 35-year-old Aston Villa defender had knee surgery in October that was expected to keep her out for eight weeks.

But her comeback attempts were halted by calf and hip problems before the Villa skipper finally made her first appearance of the season as a late substitute in last week's win over Arsenal.

Speaking on the BBC's Behind the Goals podcast, Corsie said: "It wasn't that many weeks ago where I genuinely was having conversations with a physio and I remember, I've not cried that many times, but I did cry one day in the physio room.

"We got to the point where I was like, I don't know if I'd ever run again. It wasn't even about will I play football again, I was just like I'd like to be able to go for a jog.

"We reshuffled the rehab plan, the goal is you're trying to return to your sport, so it's very much like how can you play football again.

"We had to switch that to be like I just don't think I can run, running is the thing that causes me the most pain.

"That's how broken my body did feel at one point. Playing again at that moment in time, that's not even something I'm going to put focus to, I just would like to be able to do this.

"Then you chip away and you build yourself back up. Because of all those ups and downs, finishing training on Tuesday before the Arsenal game last week, that was the moment where I felt the greatest relief.

"That was the biggest celebration for me because I'd got through that session which meant I could be in the matchday squad."

Corsie insists chasing a return to Scotland duty was the "biggest factor" in her recovery and she wants to continue her international career under newly-appointed head coach Melissa Andreatta.

"I've just wanted to put myself in a position where I could say I was fit and available, it's so disappointing to have had to miss the last four camps," added Corsie.

"It's really nice to say I am now in a place where I can say that I'm fit.

"Playing for Scotland is the absolute best thing, and it's been the biggest factor in me wanting to strive to actually get back to this point."

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at Hampden Park

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Melissa Andreatta's predecessor, Pedro Martinez Losa, was dismissed because of his inability to guide Scotland to Euro 2025. The third major tournament in a row the Scots failed to reach.

A battered and bruised side fell to their knees in December at the Bolt Arena in Helsinki while Finland were celebrating and planning for Switzerland this summer.

Although Scotland have become all too familiar with failure, Andreatta insists the job, and the move around the world with her family, "wasn't a hard sell" and she is confident of "competing on the world stage" with her new team.

"My family know what I'm very passionate about and what I've dreamt of for a long time in my football career and that's to be a head coach," the Australian said at her first media conference.

"It wasn't a hard sell. Whether you're a player or a coach, you want to mix it with the best. You want to be at the highest level and I think of that 12-year-old Mel who dreamt of being a gold medallist at the Olympic Games.

"I think that's the same thing to me, being at the highest level competing against the best on the world stage is things that dreams are made of.

"It would be an honour, a privilege, a dream come true for me as well, but more importantly for a group of players who have been working hard at this for many years - some just starting out on their journey - and it would be super special for them.

"That's what I'm all about, supporting a group of people with this one goal to all get on the same page, aligned behind it and going for it and I hope we can do that."