LEANNE CRICHTON was proud of her Rangers side as they marked her first Old Firm in charge with three points.
On an afternoon they controlled at New Douglas Park especially in the second period, goals from Mia McAulay and substitute Eilidh Austin sealed the points for the Gers and landed the first derby blow of the campaign with a 2-0 victory.
Speaking to RangersTV to reflect on a pleasing afternoon for her side, the Head Coach said: “Proud of the players? That is probably right now the overwhelming feeling to be honest.
“I thought all over the pitch in terms of the players that started the game I felt the players that came off the bench and contributed and the players that weren't part of it today. Ones that are not in the squad through injury and whatnot it was a real group effort.
“I think you could see that in the way they celebrated the goals as well there is no better feeling than when the ball hits the back of the net in these types of games.
“It has been a week that we have tried to be thorough in terms of the gameplan and what we wanted from the group.
“It was more about us in terms of the confidence and belief that we had in the players and I just felt that they went about their business really professionally today.
“I think the clean sheet is really pleasing, especially in this type of fixture.
“We know how close they can be and how well contested they have been over the years. I felt in the first half we were just a little bit tentative and that was the message at half time. We had asked them to go and play with that bravery and belief and really go and commit to the gameplan and I just felt the first half we were probably 75 per cent there.
“I think we created one or two opportunities but nothing really real clear-cut and we just wanted them to go and get the shackles off and really go and get after the game and I felt we managed to do that.
“I thought the changes in the second half as we had told the players these are the types of the games that you can really go and empty the tank and know that you have got teammates that are waiting to come in and make that impact and I felt that happened today.
“I am really proud of the group and delighted with the three points of course and the clean sheet.”
The former Scotland international reflected on the match winning contributions from her two players, as she was full of praise for the duo who set the side on their way to the win in Hamilton.
She continued: “Brilliant, really good. I watched Mia in the warm up today and I could just see she was a cutting a frustrated figure at points but you she is a maverick and she is going to give you something.
“She loves a big game and occasion. She is a real bright young talent and it has been such a joy to work with her and others in the building just now and then Eilidh.
“Again she might have felt disappointed today in terms of Jess [Pegram] coming into the group we felt just as a natural centre-back Jess going in there today and starting the game rather than building up.
“You have got an Old Firm game it was a good opportunity to get her right into the group and integrated and unfortunately she picks the dead leg in the first half which you need to make the change.
“Which at that point you don't necessarily want to go and make that change but I felt Eilidh came into the game and again she could have been on the back foot.
“There could have been nerves there, there could have been a frustration and a disappointment but I thought her attitude was absolutely first class I thought the way she went about her business.
“Not often as defenders do you really go and score too many goals but I think she enjoyed that one today and you could also she her teammates and how much they appreciate that as well.”
Crichton now wants her side to build on the result moving forward, as her team gears up for a short trip to Petershill to take on Partick Thistle next weekend.
She added: “Consistency is what we are striving for. Really pleased it is another Sunday that is three points in the bag and that will be it.
“We will review it tomorrow; we will look back on the positives as we would have done regardless of the scoreline.
“It is an opportunity for us to be better now, but I think the confidence element and perhaps any doubts that the players had within the group in terms of these types of fixtures whether we enough in the building to really go and compete I think we have managed to answer our own doubts this afternoon and that for me is a really strong message that we can carry forward.”
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