RANGERS manager Kevin Murphy says Hibs winning the SWPL Cup in midweek will give players at other clubs confidence to go on and win trophies.
Murphy, whose side host Celtic in SWPL1 tomorrow, said: “The cup final result wasn’t a huge surprise to our girls because Hibs have shown they can compete with Glasgow City.
“But it gives the game a shot in the arm that somebody else can win a trophy – there’s no doubt about that.
“City have been the team to beat and Hibs doing that should give other teams encouragement. We should be saying it can be done, it can be achieved.
“A couple of years ago people might have thought it was mission impossible. It will be good for the game and will bring more interest.”
The Rangers manager has up to six players unavailable for the game against Celtic. The last time the sides met, in a historic first league game at Celtic Park in April, his side lost 5-1.
“It’s going to be really tough given the scoreline last time,” Murphy admitted.
“Celtic are a top team and had a great result against Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup. We’ll be as well prepared as we can be, and hopefully put in a performance which will merit points. The injury position offers the opportunity for other players to come in and show what they can do.”
Glasgow City will attempt to bounce back from their final defeat – the first time in 15 attempts they have failed to win a domestic trophy – against Spartans at the Excelsior Stadium.
City have problems up front with main striker Clare Shine still unavailable and Julie Fleeting out with a calf injury. Left-back Nicky Docherty is also injured.
“It’s the first time since I’ve come to the club that we’ve had all these issues at the same time,” City coach Scott Booth admitted, “but we’ll still be able to put out a strong team.”
Hibs, who are already eight points behind City in the table, are away to bottom club Stirling University. They meet the same opposition at home on Wednesday night in a rearranged game and victories in both matches will reduce the deficit to five points.
In the final SWPL1 fixture, Second bottom Forfar Farmington will fancy their chances against Aberdeen who have conceded 15 goals without reply in their last two games.
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