Celtic FC Women are also in Scottish Cup action this afternoon. While the men take on Livingston at Celtic Park, Elena Sadiku’s Ghrils have an away quarter-final tie in the Women’s Scottish Cup as the holders take on Montrose at Links Park. This match has a 4pm kick-off time.
Last weekend Celtic hammered Partick Thistle 7-1 at the Excelsior Stadium in Airdrie in the final SWPL1 match before we go into the split. Before Celtic gat down to that challenge, it’s all about the defence of our Women’s Scottish Cup today, which Celtic retained last May after beating theRangers comfortably at Hampden.
It would be a major shock if Celtic were to slip-up at this stage against today’s opponents and we can probably expect another high scoring victory for the team. Elana is clearly well satisfied with her squad’s current form and takes the team to Angus knowing that they are coming off the back of a top performance last weekend against Partick Thistle.
“I think coming from that game, it give us a big confidence of what we can do because Partick Thistle are a good team,” the Celtic FC Women manager said. “But we managed to dominate that game in every way. So I think it just shows what potential this group has, what we can do and achieve.
“So it was a good boost to have going into this week. Like I said after the game, it was also very pleasing that we scored from open play and that is something that we have been working a lot on.
“Of course, we are strong in set pieces and that something we are going to continue to have. But we want to be an attacking team that can score a lot of goals from open play.
“The reason why we are progressing as a team is because it’s not only about the starting 11 that are doing well, it comes from us doing very well in training too as a squad.
“It’s something that we just keep on building upon, and hopefully we are going to do that again on Sunday.”
A big boost for the Celtic FC Women’s side in recent weeks has been the return from long-term injury for Lucy Ashworth-Clifford who started last weekend for the first time since receiving that horrible knee injury against theRangers in December 2022. Lucy was in the middle of a fantastic season at the club and if Elena can get her back to her best then we’ll have a top performer on our hands.
“It was good to make my first start since injury. It was good to be back out there with the girls too,” Lucy Ashworth-Clifford told Celtic TV ahead of today’s trip to Montrose.
Lucy Ashworth-Clifford in action against theRangers
“Partick Thistle are a hard team to play against, so it just goes to show how well we performed. And it was just nice to be back! I’m still on a gradual return with minutes on the pitch, so getting 45 minutes under my belt was good.
It was hard at times, but I was expecting to be a bit more chesty. But I think I’m starting to get there now. I think I’m catching my breath slowly but surely. But it is what it is, and you have just got to push on with it.”
Lucy actually made her return from injury back in January when she came off the bench against today’s opponents and that led to a lovely little moment as her Celtic teammates all came over to the touchline to give her an extra-special welcome back moment.
“Last time against Montrose, when making my return it started off quite funny with the girls doing whatever they did but I don’t think I’ll be getting that this time around.
“It will be a tough game on Sunday. If we get through that, then we are through to Hampden Park. So there is a big prize at stake.’ Playing at Hampden last season was a special time for the whole team. It was hard to watch on, and watch the girls do what they did. But I was so proud of them, and hopefully I can be part of it this time and celebrate after we win!”
The Celtic Star’s Score Prediction – Montrose 0-8 Celtic FC Women.
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