Celtic are back in SWPL1 action this evening against Hearts, who may or may not regale us all with The Sash over the Tannoy, that is yet to be confirmed! Celtic have been All Quiet on the Eastern Front as far as media access to this game is concerned so we have no up to date information on injuries and so on after the 1-0 win over theRangers on Sunday in the quarter final of the SWPL Cup.
What has also yet to be confirmed is whether the support of either side will be able to watch this crucial league encounter by way of a match stream. Yet don’t give up on that one just yet, there have been plenty of last-minute announcements when it comes to online viewing of SWPL games, they either like to keep us guessing or don’t really realise the appetite for watching the women’s game in Scotland. My money would sadly be on the latter.
But online viewing or not this game for Celtic is absolutely crucial. On the other side of the city the bottle tends to crash when the big games take place, yet the flat track bullies regularly perform against the amateur opponents. Whilst at Celtic the Hoops rise to the big occasion but every now and then drop a clanger and points against the smaller fish they are expected to fry
That of was the case against Spartans prior to the International break, however a late Charlie Wellings goal did at least save a point for the Hoops and Izzy Atkinson is probably still having vivid nightmares about the injury time chance that went abegging to win the game soon after.
In normal circumstances we’d all be waiting with baited breath to see if that surprise result would have an impact on future games, yet thankfully we’ve had the significant and ‘skelping matter of a Glasgow Derby win to rebuild confidence and hopefully lead to some momentum prior to tonight’s game against a tough opponent in Hearts.
Celtic put out a strong side on Sunday and in a tough encounter started well. Bar the odd spell of pressure from theRangers the Celts gained control of midfield, played superbly on the counter attack and ultimately gained a single goal win that our opponents in no way could begrudge us. So instead to deflect from his own inadequacies theRangers boss Malky Thomson took a leaf out the Steven Gerrard school of management and threw his ‘keeper under the bus. Fair enough I guess but Jenna Fife avoided injury as it slipped through her gloves. No harm done.
And there was still an opportunity for Fran Alonso to try his famed experimentation at Murray Park. This time it was Jodie Bartle at left wing back, an experiment that was thankfully abandoned at half-time, much like the previous Greatest Hits of Fran’s ‘I’ve got something I just wanna try today’ including Chloe Warrington as a left footed right sided wing back, Jodie Bartle as a predominately right footed left sided central defender, and the number one, – Clarissa Larisey as a right wing back. Thankfully the rumours Charlie Wellings was in Greaves Sports yesterday being sized for a pair of goalkeeping gloves are at present unsubstantiated – but there is still time for something out of the ordinary to happen by the time Fran Alonso chooses his starting line-up this evening.
Yet despite some crazy decisions in the positioning of personnel this season, this evening’s game will no doubt be one where Celtic’s head coach will be toying with rotation once more.
Sunday’s encounter will have been tough for the players both physically and emotionally and with another game on Sunday against theRangers looming large, Alonso may well consider three games in seven days as a stretch too far for some players. Yet finding that balance, especially after the warning shots of that Spartans game still being fresh in the memory will be no easy task.
It may be tempting to limit the changes and use substitutions to put some rest into players legs if and when the game is won, but that’s a gamble Alonso is unlikely to take so expect to see at least half the team changed from Sunday.
Chloe Craig will likely feature from the start after a late substitute appearance against theRangers and Chloe Logan despite her weekend heroics is likely to drop out with Rachael Johnstone given game time. And there could be an overdue start for Chloe Warrington, though hopefully not at right wing back on this occasion. We can also expect to see the physical presence of Kathleen McGovern starting this one and the pace of María Ólafsdóttir Gros utilised to stretch the Hearts defence.
All that said, that is second guessing Fran Alonso, and if anyone ever does predict a Fran Alonso starting eleven, I’d suggest popping down to your local newsagent and picking up the Euro Millions ticket as your luck is probably in!
Whether we’ll be able to watch a stream of tonight’s game, much like the playlist for the Oriam Performance Centre match announcer, has yet to be decided. But whatever happens a win tonight for Celtic is vital to add momentum to the performance and confidence gained from Sunday’s brilliant Glasgow Derby win.
Hearts of course will be no easy opponent but they’ll be facing a Celtic side brimming with confidence and it will take more than some questionable marching tunes from a Hearts DJ to put the Hoops off their stride.
The Hearts v Celtic FC Women match kicks off at 7.30pm this evening COYGIG!
Niall J
