Glasgow City in win ahead of Old Firm showdown
Glasgow City increased their SWPL lead over Celtic to nine points when they beat Hibs 2-0 at Meadowbank Stadium last night.
City dominated the first half and went ahead through Bea Prades after 24 minutes.
It should have been more but Hibs goalkeeper Benni Haaland made some good saves, including from a Lauren Davidson penalty.
And City clinched it 16 minutes from time. Priscila Chinchilla was brought down in the box for a second time, leaving Haaland facing Davidson once more.
The Norwegian again guessed the spot kick correctly – but this time the league’s top scorer placed it with more power into the bottom right-hand corner.
Celtic and thirdplaced Rangers, who are ten points behind City, meet tomorrow night at Broadwood in what will be the first ever Scottish women’s league match shown live on Sky Sports.
Rangers right back Rachel McLauchlan admits her side can’t afford any more lapses.
Celtic won 3-0 when the teams met at the Excelsior last month and McLauchlan said: “It was disappointing from our point of view.
“They did well and got the points, but we have the chance to put it right quite quickly so hopefully we can do that. We know how tight the league is, especially with us having had too many draws and then losing to Celtic.”
McLauchlan and her team-mates celebrated their first-ever SWPL title last season, but Celtic have yet to win one.
“I still think we can retain the title,” McLauchlan said. “There are so many big games to come and a lot that can happen.”
Celtic’s American midfielder Taylor Otto said: “The last game against them showed our quality and our strengths, and showed how deep our squad is.”
In today’s four fixtures, fourth-place Hearts travel to Partick Thistle, who are two places below them. Both sides are now guaranteed to have their best-ever seasons.
In the bottom six Glasgow Women, who lost all 22 games before the split and created an unwanted top-league record, are looking for their first points at home to Aberdeen.
“There’s still a fighting chance we can avoid relegation and it would be wrong for me and the girls to down tools now,” manager Andy Gardner said. “We’re really excited about the ten games. I feel we’ve got an opportunity to show people what we’re about.
“Stranger things have happened in football.”
Hamilton host Motherwell at New Douglas Park, while Dundee United play Spartans.