Sunday is something of a revenge mission for Fran Alonso’s exciting Celtic FC Women side when they take on Spartans at Ainslie Park in Edinburgh in the 1pm kick-off in the SWPL. Spartans shocked Celtic back on 17 October by grabbing a well deserved point in a 2-2 draw at Penny Cars Stadium in Airdrie and that result could still prove costly as the season progresses to the business end with Celtic having ground to make up.
All-weather training done and dusted within fifteen minutes🙃❄🌞 pic.twitter.com/GoCZaRImpz
— Celtic FC Women (@CelticFCWomen) February 4, 2022
That can start in midweek when Celtic play Glasgow City but first Spartans must be beaten and for Fran Alonso the three points on offer on Sunday are absolutely vital. “We must be at our best and we must be willing to fight,” the charismatic Celtic FC Women coach told Louse Gould from Celtic TV. “I know it’s a cliché, but it is imperative that we focus on each game.
“If we look too far ahead in our heads, thinking about the set of goals we need to win the league and then win the cup then we could fail. Last year we had chances until the last game,” he said. “This is what we need to do to try and make up the distance.
“This could be a good weekend if we beat Spartans because the top two teams are playing each other.
“Spartans are very good at fighting for second balls, so they like to put the ball in the air. That’s not our biggest strength so against them it’s never easy games.”
Preparation is key 💯 #CelticFC pic.twitter.com/t3QFJjY2dg
— Celtic FC Women (@CelticFCWomen) February 3, 2022
Charlie Wellings, who went off with an injury in the second half against Hamilton last Sunday is unlikely to be ready for tomorrow and may well be targeting midweek and the game that follows that – the highly anticipated Scottish Cup match against theRangers next Sunday – for her return. Without the former England international striker’s goals others will need to stand up tomorrow for a match where Olivia Chance is also a doubt. Jodie Bartle though returns after her own injury woes.
It’s been a frustrating start to the year for me, seems to have been one thing after the next… Injury, testing, illness blah blah blah, but back to the grind, fresh faced and ready to rock and roll 💪🏻 Looks like February is going to have to be my January 💚
📸 @cdsportsmedia pic.twitter.com/mnozDWAouu— Jodie Bartle (@Bartle_5) February 3, 2022
Alonso is unlikely to under-estimate Spartans. “The teams away from the top three have improved massively, not only in terms of resources but they have brought better players in. There are more teams in the league so there are also more chances as well to make mistakes and to drop points.”
Although the top two teams at the moment – current leaders theRangers and current Champions Glasgow City have only dropped points between themselves and Celtic, Alonso doubts this trend will continue.
“I don’t think that’s going to be the case in the next four months of competition, they will most likely drop points, in saying that we may drop points too,” he said. “We need to make sure we do our business.”
Here’s Louise Mason from Spartans reflecting on some difficult results recently and the match against Celtic tomorrow. “We’ve had a tough time the last week but we look forward to the next game…last game against Celtic was a great game for anybody watching and for us as a team,” she said.
Spartans v Celtic FC Women – Sunday, 6 February, Ainslie Park, Edinburgh (KO: 1pm) – Just checked and this game is live on BBC Sport Scotland, see below…
#ParksSWPL | 🚨 24 HOUR COUNTDOWN 🚨
⚽ @spartansfcwomen v @CelticFCWomen
📅 Sunday 6th February
🏟 Ainslie Park
🕓 13:00 KO
📺 LIVE on @BBCSportScot pic.twitter.com/QrJvikwaVc— Park’s Motor Group SWPL (@SWPL) February 5, 2022
COYGIG.
