It’s make or break in the SWPL1 this weekend for Fran Alonso and his Celtic FC Women’s side, as they head to Murray Park to face league leaders theRangers in a game Celtic simply cannot afford to lose if they have even the slightest chance of emerging from this season as League Champions or even Champions League qualifiers.
The Hoops know they have their rivals card marked having already knocked them out of both domestic cup competitions, however in the league this season big spending theRangers win in November has had a significant impact on Celtic’s title challenge.
As things stand the Hoops are just four points behind in SWPL1, although theRangers have the advantage of having two games in hand. Celtic however are in the position, should they win on Sunday, of cutting the gap at the top to a solitary point and in turn and adding real pressure onto the league leaders when those games in hand come around.
There has been little between the sides in any meeting between the sides, and although Celtic have a psychological edge over their opponents in head-to-head encounters, no side has won by more than a single goal.
One player Celtic will be looking to when it comes to creating opportunities on Sunday is midfielder Sarah Harkes, who speaking to Celtic TV, recognises the fine margins in such encounters, and as such points to the need to win the individual duels to then allow for moments of creativity to arise.
“You want to win that 50/50 against them, but we both have a lot of quality in each team so there’s really good spells of movement and play,” she said. “It’s finding those moments where you can play and break through.”
And Harkes also considers Celtic’s out of possession concentration and focus to be key ahead of meeting the league leaders, and whilst recognising the form of their opponent, there is a belief Celtic can win on Sunday, particularly with the recent Scottish Cup success fresh in the memory and with Champions League football as a goal for next season –
“Even if we’re not on the ball, we need to be mentally strong and believe that we can beat them, because we can. We’ve been the underdog a lot and we’re still sitting in third so this league game is important.
“They’ve been in great form, but we know that we always fight really hard against them, and we just did that again. It was extra special to do that in the cup because we were the underdogs going into that game again. We are fighting for that Champions League qualification so this one’s important.”
It will be difficult to judge how theRangers will approach this one. Tactically last time out Fran Alonso emerged, as he often does, with the advantage over theRangers manager Malky Thomson, who initially having tried to match Celtic’s passing game, soon reverted to direct, even long-ball, football to try and bypass Celtic’s dominant second half midfield.
Will he attempt to now go toe-to toe again, or will he take a direct and physical approach from the start, either way Sarah Harkes says Fran Alonso is preparing for all eventualities.
“Whether they press or drop off, whatever they do they’re making sure that we’re prepared as possible and once again to just fight and have that pride as Celtic,” the American midfielder stated.
This is simply a must-win encounter, whether that is to keep alive the hopes of a title challenge or to close the gap on Glasgow City in second as the Hoops target Champions League qualification for next season.
One thing is certain Malky Thomson and his theRangers side will be sick of the sight of this Celtic team, as no matter their efforts, their form against the Hoops, even amongst their own support is enough to cause consternation as well as calls for managerial change.
You can see if Celtic can add to theRangers Glasgow Derby woes this Sunday with the match live on BBC Alba with a 4.10pm Kick Off. So after watching The Bhoys play at Easter Road earlier in the afternoon why not make it a Celtic double and tune to to watch the Ghirls playing theRangers?
COYGIG
Niall J
