After a long January comes a fleeting February, a month with only three fixtures heralding a total change of pace from the intensity of 2024. However, the change of pace did not similarly herald a corresponding intensity on the pitch with only one of those fixtures resulting in a win. The win came under the lights at Tannadice over Dundee United and gave some of the newer signings a chance to play competitively with their teammates and for the team to score goals and enjoy their football. However, a win for Celtic against Dundee United in this league is almost as close to a guaranteed result as you can get in the SWPL and was overshadowed by below par performances in other fixtures that had fans asking questions.
The first loss on the 2nd February saw Celtic knocked out of the Scottish Cup by Glasgow City in the first of two meetings this month. It was a tight game in which Celtic held the lead twice, but ultimately conceded a third goal in the 54th minute and despite having enough time to regroup and press for a result, it was not to be with the players seemingly unable to take advantage of any chances they did create. It continued a pattern which seems to be developing of a lack of clinical finishing and some shaky defensive decision making. We also saw the manager deciding to stick with a back three formation playing Emma Lawton in a position which seems to limit her ability to demonstrate the fearlessness which Sadiku has spoken of as her most attractive footballing quality, and one of the key reasons she signed her from Partick Thistle. Indeed Lawton’s impressive performances for Celtic, particularly in the Champions League as well as a change of management personnel in the Scotland set up saw her not only get her first squad call up for the national team this month but make two starts, score a goal against the Netherlands and win a Player of the Match award. Despite disappointing results for Scotland over the international break, Lawton’s inclusion was undoubtedly a positive for the team and shows how much quality we have within the Celtic side that should be reflected in results against big teams.
The silver lining of going out of the cup is of course fewer fixtures to have to contend with in the coming weeks and an ability to purely focus on league action in an attempt to retain the title. With a lot of time to train and instill the ‘principles’ of which she is so fond of speaking during this month, Elena Sadiku now has increased pressure to take home the title with all other chances at silverware out the window. The Dundee United victory saw Harrison get her first start as well as scoring a hattrick but she has only started one game and has yet to score in the minutes she has played as a substitute, begging questions as to the purpose of her signing only until the end of the year if not to make instant impact. In Dundee there was also a celebration at the start of the game of 100 Celtic appearances for Amy Gallacher. Whilst a huge achievement for her as a player, such recognition of a significant milestone brings into focus the different way in which Gallacher has been utilised for the side this season, reflected in performances that feel flat and frustrated compared to the technical creativity and flair that was on show in the 23/24 season culminating in the goal that won Celtic the title.
A second meeting with Glasgow city in as many weeks was again an end to end affair resulting in a 2-2 draw and while entertaining for a neutral observer was frustrating for Celtic fans who expect results in these big games against their major rivals and are not seeing them transpire. A dangerous looking challenge on Morgan Cross from Brena Lovera and the resulting substitution generated concern that Cross had sustained a serious injury, however that was not to transpire and she has made what seems like a full recovery. However, the unplanned change did then see Luana come on to join the back three while Lawton was moved up the park into the wing back position that many see as the area of the pitch where she best demonstrates her natural fearlessness and flair. It also calls into question a natural defender such as Luana is on the bench week in week out when she has shown herself to be solid in defence on the rare occasions she has been given opportunities, able to pass deftly into midfield and a threat in the box from set pieces.
As the split was confirmed it was Motherwell who made it into the top six with the rest of the teams exactly as you might have predicted at the start of the season – Hearts, Hibs, Glasgow City, Rangers and Celtic. The month also ended with four of the teams at the top of the SWPL on the exact same number of points going into March and the final game before the split fixtures commence. The competitiveness at the top of the league and each team’s ability to take points from each other is truly exciting but if Celtic are to keep up with their rivals in the title race then it is big game performances that must improve as we now only have big games ahead of us and every single point counts.
