Rangers head coach Leanne Crichton and Celtic counterpart Grant ScottImage source, SNS
Image caption,

Rangers head coach Leanne Crichton and Celtic counterpart Grant Scott hope to get their hands on the Women's Scottish Cup on Sunday afternoon

Women's Scottish Cup final: Rangers v Celtic

31/5/26

ByAndy Campbell
BBC Scotland

Rangers and Celtic are both looking to end their season on a high in Sunday's Women's Scottish Cup final, but for different reasons.

For holders Rangers, it's an opportunity to make it three wins in a row in the tournament but, perhaps more importantly, to lay some demons to rest.

Leanne Crichton's side endured a torrid end to their SWPL campaign with a 6-0 defeat by hosts Glasgow City. Victory would have given Rangers the title, as leaders Hearts lost at Hibernian. Crichton's side finished two points below Hearts.

Celtic were not involved in the title race in what has been a transitional season. Grant Scott replaced Elena Sadiku as head coach mis-season after the latter joined BK Hacken.

For the experienced manager, it is a chance to make his mark early in his tenure at Celtic.

'We owe the fans'

Crichton has a chance for silverware in her debut season at Rangers and her first campaign as a head coach.

The former Scotland midfielder had been assistant at Glasgow City last season and took over from Jo Potter after Potter's cup double-winning season led to a move to Crystal Palace.

"We're fully focused on a great one to wrap the season and sign off," Crichton told Rangers TV.

"It's worth mentioning the disappointment after last weekend and the frustration around that.

"The manner of the defeat was really disappointing for everybody. That's one we owe the fans - to bounce back again.

"It's great that we've got this game and this opportunity against Celtic in the Scottish Cup final to try and right the wrongs.

"I'll only feel a level of satisfaction if we can go and get the win and make sure we get over the line on Sunday."

'Nobody will remember the runner-up'

A "very excited" Scott said this season had gone "a bit more erratically than I would've liked".

"We have had some really good performances, some really well organised, structured disciplined performances and a few that we've let ourselves down badly in," he explained.

"A changeover of manager is difficult for the players to handle, it's difficult for the staff and myself included.

"You've got to turn up, you've got to perform, manage the nerves that'll come, use them to your advantage if you can.

"Nobody will remember the runner-up, we've got to try and win the game.

"We've still got a chance to - I don't want to say salvage something because it's not been that bad - but certainly it would give us a real highlight and something to use as our motivation to come back even stronger next year."

The story so far

Rangers won all four SWPL meetings of the sides this season.

And Crichton's side prevailed in their SWPL Cup semi-final meeting, winning 4-2 on penalties after their 3-3 draw after extra time.

Celtic did beat Rangers in the 2023 Women's Scottish Cup final as they retained the trophy after defeating Glasgow City the year before.

The Old Firm rivals have each won the tournament twice, seven short of Glasgow City's record nine titles.

How to follow

The match will be shown live on BBC One Scotland, iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.

There will also be live Sportsound commentary on BBC Radio Scotland and Sounds.

And a live text will be available on the BBC Sport website and app along with the TV and radio coverage.