LEANNE CRICHTON says there were plenty positives to take as Rangers marked their return to the pitch with a win.
In their first outing of 2026 after the winter break, three goals in either half saw her side book their place in the next round of the Scottish Cup with a 6-0 success over Kilmarnock.
Speaking to RangersTV to reflect on the afternoon for her side, she said: “It was a good feeling the victory absolutely. I knew today there was a good chance that we would be a little bit rusty in how we would move the ball and look to go about our business and that is probably how it felt in the first half.
“Ultimately today it is about progressing in the competition. It is an opportunity to get everybody back on the pitch, for the most part to move the ball well.
“Different types of scorers, different types of goals as well.
“Another clean sheet, which regardless of the opposition and the competition that we are we have set the mark now with that. We are really focused on it, so a lot of positives.
"You know how the weather has been this week. I am sure every club up and down the country has been challenged and we are no different.
“Yes we are fortunate enough that we can move to the indoor facility but we don't have the luxury of full dimensions into work so we knew it was going to be different to go from being in that condensed space all week and looking to move that seamlessly onto the pitch.
“We know how wet it was this afternoon as well the pitch was even more slick than it normally would be, but we persevered with that.
“I thought the first half was a solid enough performance, I just felt there was moments transitionally we have probably just gave Kilmarnock a bit too much respect at points and allowed them to latch on a couple of moments that I think we could have been punished on a different day.
“We addressed that at half time and the response was good; the players have been great they have gave us everything since they have come back in.
“I know they enjoyed the break and an opportunity to switch off and reset but we know how big this next number of weeks are.
“We have treated today with a lot of respect in terms of Kilmarnock and Jim [Chapman] and the team that he has put together this year doing really well.
“For us it was important that we came through that unscathed which we have.”
Rangers fans got a first look at new signing Calliste Brookshire for the first time as she was introduced on the hour-mark in Cumbernauld, with the head coach discussing what she can bring to the team in the second half of the season.
She continued: “It is brilliant, she has been a breath of fresh air this week.
“Just coming in just her personality first and foremost. Coming in and adapting the group in a really quick period in time.
“When you don't have the luxury of pre-season and really getting to know people.
“It is straight down to work and business but I think from the first session or two you could see what she is all about.
“The players recognise that as well I think in the time that you have seen her today.
“She is super direct, physical, aggressive, she has got a lot of variation to her play as well.
“I know how tough it is to come in that first game, you want to impress you want to do everything right, but now she has got those minutes hopefully she can settle as the week goes on and she is going to be a big player for us ultimately.”
After ticking off the first game of the year, Crichton says full attention for switches to a what’s coming up for the squad, with league matches against both Hibs and Glasgow City and Old Firm derby semi-final to follow in the weeks ahead.
She added: “We take each game at a time. We knew this one was a good one for us coming out the back of the break and an opportunity to build into the weeks ahead.
“We know you can't take your foot off the gas at all; we have taken care of today; we were respectful of the tie and really looking forward to it but we have managed to bag that one now.
“Ultimately it is about looking forward to Hibs next week now which is the next biggest tie because it is the next game.
“Every team is the same you want to have that momentum. You want to keep it going I said before the break that I wish that we could have continued.
“We have managed to pick up ultimately where we left off and we look forward now to the challenges that lie ahead.”
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