Old Firm stalemate / Malky Thomson reaction

Rangers WFC suffered their first dropped points of the season last Sunday away to Glasgow City in this double header of title super matches. The points may have been dropped but the performance was one that should have brought three points as Rangers battled back from a goal behind.

That spirit and determination should kick the group on again as they face the challenge of our nearest rivals this afternoon. Celtic are one point behind having won nine of their first ten games and conceding just two goals, both to Glasgow City. So they will come full of belief and will be physical in chasing down the reigning Champions.

Rangers know these are the games that decide titles and having been invincible last season this is a huge incentive once again.

The team for this is –

RANGERS: Esson, Docherty, Martinez, Davison, McLauchlan, Middag, Cornet, Kerr, Danielsson, Hay, McCoy.

Subs: Fife, Nolf, Hill, Cavanagh, Arnot, Howat, Watson, McLeary, McLean

First half action

2 mins – Early drive from Cornet but too far out to properly test the goalkeeper.

All Rangers with Celtic happy to let Rangers dominate possession but it is a close game, not much chances in the first fifteen minutes.

30 mins – Scare for Rangers as they are caught by a long ball. Esson races from her line but is adjudged to have made contact, she’s in the book 📒

35 mins – Celtic caution for a foul on Martinez 📒

37 mins – Another Celtic caution for foul on Martinez 📒

39 mins – CLOSE! Docherty with a thunderous long range effort is well tipped over, best effort so far.

44 mins – McLauchlan long range effort is over just before HT.

HT – Rangers 0 Celtic 0

Very tight and stuffy first half. Docherty drive the closest otherwise a very hard fought half. Rangers will need to up their performance.

Second half action

47 mins – CHANCE! McCoy free and her cut back is sent towards goal by Kerr and touched over! Much better play.

57 mins – SHOT! Cornet again in space and her low drive is well saved down to the GKs right.

63 mins – BAR! Middag with a curling free kick which rattles the cross bar! It stays out but that was a top effort!

67 mins – SUBSTITUTION – Jenny Danielsson OFF Lizzie Arnott ON

71 mins – CHANCE! Great cross by Middag and Davison just wide! What a chance!

72 mins – SUBSTITUTIONS – Hay, McCoy, Cornet OFF Howat, Watson and MacLean ON

73 mins – Watson immediately cautioned for a bit of wrestling on her opponent 📒

82 mins – SHOT! Howat forces a good stop again from Tajonar and she is up to block a Middag rebound also!

88 mins – SUBSTITUTION Middag OFF Nolf On

90 mins – Docherty drive us tipped over as Rangers press, the corner is knocked over as a foul is given.

90+ – SAVE! Esson springs to her left to tip one behind!

Attendance – 3328

FULL TIME – RANGERS 0 CELTIC 0

POST MATCH THOUGHTS – Another frustrating game for Rangers as we done a lot of things right, had a lot of the ball, but just lacked that cutting edge. Positively for the team they kept going and overall by far the better side but solving that creative spark is the issue. Similar, ironically, to what we see from the mens first team on a regular basis.

The midfield lacks penetration, case to say Rangers look more dangerous when Lizzie Arnott starts wide left as Jenny Danielsson isn’t in the game on that side, she is much better centrally and Rangers may get more joy with that change. the midfield three, Middag, Cornet and Kerr are very similar so tweaking that may also help.

Positively there is options to change things and find the right blend and the girls now will be chasing Glasgow City who are the main benefactors of today’s draw, victory this weekend will put them two points clear of Rangers and three of Celtic.

This is going to go right to the wire and Rangers have to put together another winning run of results to help keep that league crown at Ibrox. Just a small matter of the cup final in a few weeks also.

Malky Thomson post match press conference –