Der Bomber is just what Accies’ Doctor ordered
The SWPL’s longest-serving manager, Gary Doctor, says he is relishing the challenge of facing league leaders Rangers at New Douglas Park today.
Hamilton Accies sit fourth in the table with six points from three games, a massive improvement from last season when they finished last. They were spared relegation only because the league was increased from 10 to 12 teams.
Rangers, who won the title for the first time last season, have made a hugelyimpressive start to this campaign.
They were slowed down in midweek when Hearts restricted them to a 2-0 win, but before that they had scored 22 without reply in their opening two league games.
The Light Blues have also had comfortable wins in the Champions League against Ferencvaros and PAOK, and are now just two games away from joining their men’s team in the group stages.
They will find out who their Second Round opponents are in Thursday’s draw.
“We set a target of four points from our first four games, and we’re ahead of that,” said Doctor said. “Aberdeen beat us three times last season, so turning that into a win in our opening game has given us a big bounce.
“The five or six players we’ve added over the summer have given us a different dimension. Our next three games are against Rangers, Hearts and Celtic, so getting points on the board – unlike last season – was important.
“The first half Rangers played against us at the start of last season was as good a 45 as I’ve seen from an opponent in all my years in the league. But we played into their traps, and showed a bit of naivety.
“We were beaten in all three games against them, but in the last two we made them earn their goals.”
Doctor says German striker, Josi Giard, has been an inspiration since joining from Celtic in 2020, and scored a hat-trick in last Sunday’s 4-3 win over Glasgow Women.
She is nicknamed Der Bomber, and Doctor said: “Josi trains at 100% every session. She’s physical and aggressive, and brings an intensity the other players feed off.
“She’s a quiet leader, but players feed off her by example. If our strongest and mosttalented player is working harder than everyone else, it’s rubbing off – especially on the younger ones.”
Celtic are away to fifth-placed Motherwell, and the other side with maximum points, Glasgow City, host Aberdeen. Dundee United entertain Hibs, while Spartans are at home to Partick Thistle, and Hearts will expect to beat the pointless Glasgow Women.