Spartans believe they can beat City

Spartans manager Debbie McCulloch believes her players are ready to dump Glasgow City out of the Scottish Cup, but admits she wanted to avoid facing the holders.
Glasgow City will kick-off as favourites. Picture: Mark Runnacles/Getty ImagesGlasgow City will kick-off as favourites. Picture: Mark Runnacles/Getty Images
Glasgow City will kick-off as favourites. Picture: Mark Runnacles/Getty Images

The clubs clash tomorrow at Ainslie Park (kick-off 1pm) in the with Spartans the latest team aiming to break City’s vice-like grip on the women’s game in Scotland.

Spartans were the only side to beat the champions last term and McCulloch wants to take their scalp once again.

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She said: “Everyone wants to avoid Glasgow City, especially this early in the competition, however if you want to win the cup you have to beat them at some stage because they’re still the best side in the country.

“It’s a one-off game and all the pressure will be on City because they’re expected to win.

“We’ll need to stick to our game but we’ve worked hard on our shape in training this week and we take confidence from being the only side to have beaten them in recent years.”

Meanwhile, Hearts Ladies take on Forfar Farmington at Station Park (kick-off 2pm) aiming to complete a league and cup double over their opponents.

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Boss Grant Scott commented: “Realistically we are not going to win the cup, however on the back of recent results we need to keep the girls’ feet on the ground.

“We have momentum with us just now and the confidence is sky-high, you can see the impact in training and the belief the girls show each week. I can see the team getting stronger and stronger.

“There is nothing for us to fear going to Forfar, it’s a nice big pitch and everyone is looking forward to a game we are more than capable of winning.”

Elsewhere, Hibs Ladies tackle Glasgow City’s second string at the Hibernian Training Centre (kick-off 2.30pm).

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Hibees’ boss, Chris Roberts, expects the visitors to put up a stiff challenge, saying: “They’ve nothing to fear and nothing to lose so because of that all the pressure will be on us and rightly so.

“They’ll view it as a chance to make their mark and show they can play at the top level.”

Finally, Hutchison Vale host high-flying Motherwell at Saughton (kick-off 3pm); the Fir Park girls have scored an incredible 100 goals in just eight league fixtures this season.

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