Celtic winger Lucy Ashworth-Clifford claimed that “other factors” made it difficult for Elena Sadiku’s side to get a result over Rangers at New Douglas Park.
Sadiku was sent off by referee Jamie Wilkie during the SWPL clash after her initial booking at a second-half Rangers penalty award was upgraded after she sarcastically applauded the whistler. “It is always difficult, especially when you are playing against other factors that can’t really be controlled by us,” said Ashworth-Clifford. “But it is what it is and hopefully next time we are going to smash them. It was a lot of decisions, to be fair. Shocking every time it is that particular ref.
“We have watched it back and even Sky Sports themselves said it was a foul on Shannon McGregor. I think that sums it up, really. The first time we played them this season they were 2-0 up and we showed resilience to come back and the same thing happened this time. We had to go against other factors and just show what we can do.”
Katie Wilkinson netted the penalty give Rangers the lead again in the game after their opener from Rio Hardy had been cancelled out by Caitlin Hayes. Saoirse Noonan levelled for Celtic almost immediately afterwards with a glorious 20-yard free-kick before Chelsea Cornet won it for Rangers.
It is a win that moves Rangers four points clear of Celtic who are juggling the duel demands of Champions League and domestic football. We have a lot more games in our schedule and we haven’t got much energy left in the tank,” said Ashworth-Clifford. “We have to keep going. It is what it is.
“It is not out of contention at all and I am still not in doubt that we are going to win it. There are plenty of points still to go and I am sure they will drop plenty of points.”
Television replays of the penalty suggested Celtic’s frustrations were justified as Shannon McGregor looked to have been fouled by Charlie Devlin. Jo Potter, however, was inevitably philosophical about the call. “I haven’t seen it back yet but obviously I think it is a penalty,” said the Rangers manager. “We were aggrieved with the penalty that was given against us in the last game so it comes and goes. Sometimes you get the rub of the green and sometimes you don’t.
“It can infuriating but I think Charlie did extremely well to get herself between the ball and the player and it looked like a clumsy tackle to me. She was never getting anywhere near the ball. It made sense that it was a penalty and Wilko did extremely well to settle the nerves and stick it in the back of the net.”
And while thrilled with the result, the Rangers manager has insisted that it is simply part of the bigger picture. “We have to make sure we are doing our business day to day and week to week,” she said. “It was a big one for us and it gives us a cushion but as we know, that isn’t always the case when it comes to the end of the season.”