Celtic Women’s Team

The Ghirls up 3-0 v M'well at HT btw. Goals for Cross, Noonan and Lawton.

In other news, defending champions Hibs come from 2-0 down to beat Sevco, 3-2.

If the Hoops can seal the win, Celtic would move up to 2nd on 19pnts, behind leaders Glasgow City on 22 from 8. Hibs 3rd on 17, and if Hearts beat Montrose they will go joint 4th with Sevco on 16.

 

Cross with her second of the day and captain Kelly Clark extend the Ghirls lead to 5-1.

 

Maria McAneny makes it 6-1

 

Noonan with her 2nd, makes it 7-1 as the clock ticks over into injury time

 

7-1 FT

Celtic into 2nd, 3 points behind leaders City. Also the Ghirls with the best attack so far (30) & 2nd best defence (7).

 

Top of the table clash later today, when 2nd placed Celtic host league leaders Glasgow City.

K/O 16.10 @ New Douglas Park, Hamilton.

Game will also be live on BBC Alba.

Will be interesting to see how much Glasgow City's exertions in midweek, with their dramatic, late and ultimately successful efforts to qualify for the Europa League Last 16 has taken out of them, as it clearly did last season with Celtic's lacklustre form at this same stage of the season while they were also trying to contend with CL group stage football.

 

This was why I was willing to give Sadiku a bit of leeway last season, by the end of the season it became so poor though and she would have deserved the sack, I'm glad she seems to be turning it around

 

The thing is, while Celtic wobbled during the CL GS, the team was largely playing the * and semi-pro teams, and were able to scrape by during that period by using a lot of the squad rotation, which is why scraping a 1-0 against the likes of Montrose... So points on the board was not the issue as much as being completely out of touch in terms of the GD. But they were in touching distance at the top throughout that period, even while relying on rotating players, which was not as much the case the same requirement later in the season during the collapse.

So, I am not really buying that the CL GS last year had a massive impact on the team's collapse in the 2nd half of the season, because there had been a winter break and had been competitive through January, but then failed to properly replace Caitlin Hayes that month left a gaping problem in defence, with Bruna brought into the team to play alongside skipper Kelly Clark, and lets just say she was a total bombscare, made countless errors, nevermind anywhere near the player Hayes was. But can't put this all on Bruna, because that is not fair on her.

There was an International break with 11 games to play. Celtic were joint 1st with City, Hibs and Sevco, with just GD seperating the teams, and 6 points ahead of Hearts. All 4 of those teams were still involved in Cup competitions, the Ghirls had only the league to focus on. Celtic won just 3 of those 11 games and 2 of those wins were against semi-pro Motherwell and 1 against Hearts. 15 points off the pace, in a league where all of the top teams were well capable and did take points off of each other, all except for Celtic. Not a complete surprise the form fell off a cliff, as Sadiku had the team play in 12 different formations in 12 straight games.

The team's record under Sadiku against the 4 other actual professional teams (City, Hearts, Hibs & Sevco) was hardly imspiring, and especially against City and Sevco has been dire (case in point... 1 win in 12 games v Sevco since taking over from Alonso in January 2024... and that 1 win was in March 2024).

This season has started OK, but no added pressure of Europe. But even still, another derby defeat to Sevco, a 1-1 draw v champions Hibs (which happened in between Hibs having CL qualifiers) and even this afternoon v City coming on the heels of them going the distance and getting over the line in their Europa match on Thursday, let's just say the form this season still needs to be put in that context and the jury is still out as to whether the corner has been turned at this point.

 

She has to get it right today. She has * about with the team and formations so much. We need strongest 11 out there today and be at it right from the start, but she needs replaced her football getting a bit like Rodgers and Clarkes.

 

The Ghirls are holding on, but it is City that is doing most of the play and dominating.

 

City, sadly, deservedly ahead at the break, 1-0.

You would never know they were the team supposedly coming into this game, jaded from their midweek European exertions, but have been energized by them in comparison to Celtic. It is only 1-0 though, and it is not so completely lopsided, but on the balance of play, City do deserve their lead.

 

Again sadiku * it

 

Unless the Ghirls can turn this around, they'll be leapfrogged by both Hibs (on points), while will be joint 3rd with both Sevco and Hearts.

 

City now 2-0 up.

Sadiku overall record v City... P10* W2 D3 L4, so if things stay as it is, this will be a 5th loss.