Spartans boss Debbi McCulloch wants to build on solid defence

Spartans players celebrate Kat Smart's opener in a 2-0 victory over Hibs. Picture by John Douglas

She described her defence as “superb” after a clean sheet in Sunday's 2-0 Edinburgh derby victory over Hibernian, but knows a much tougher examination awaits this weekend when the Edinburgh side travel to leaders Rangers

Spartans leapfrogged Hibs into fourth as a result of Sunday's victory and McCulloch believes her team are good enough to stay there, with only the three full-time sides, Celtic, Glasgow City and Rangers, above them in the top flight.

“We want to keep our goal difference at a really low level because we are really proud of that from the first round of seven fixtures,” McCulloch told the Anyone’s Game website.

“We have not had a doing like other teams. It might still come but I hope not. They are the two things we really want to go and achieve.”

She believes her squad will take confidence from a second-half performance on Sunday at Ainslie Park that was a marked improvement on the first. An away game to Rangers is as tough as it gets, but McCulloch wants her team to show they can compete in a match that will be live on BBC Scotland.

“We need to take positives from this and I've said that to the players,” she added. “This is the first step. Let's just ride the wave as long as we possibly can and continue to work hard in training, continue learning.

“We have a real togetherness, so I'm feeling positive about the upcoming games.”