Rangers dropped off top spot in the Scottish Women’s Premier League yesterday, falling to a 1-0 defeat against title rivals Glasgow City at Ibrox, courtesy of a late Nicole Kozlova strike.
It was Leanne Crichton’s first match as Gers boss against her old side, having left City in the summer to take the Ibrox role after serving as assistant to Leanne Ross last season.
The home side competed well throughout, with the statistics reflecting an evenly contested game. Rangers created some key openings through Katie Wilkinson and Kim Shin-ji but were unable to convert, while City took their chance late on.
Crichton voiced her frustration after the game, saying: "In terms of the application and the way we went about the game today, it was pretty good. The only fault I can really find is the manner in which we've defended the set-piece at the end.
“We need to be a bit more aggressive and a bit savvy. Unfortunately for us this afternoon, we're going to need to suffer a little bit."
Despite the added narrative of facing her former club, she insisted it did not alter her preparation: "Honestly, it didn't change my mindset. I've only got one focus and that's on preparing the team and making sure the players in this Rangers dressing room have got a game plan and an opportunity to go and express themselves.
“The fixture is a nice one because I don't think there's ever going to be any animosity between the two sides because of the managers. But we were able to part that friendship for 90 minutes and she [Ross] has the bragging rights today."
Ross herself echoed this saying: “We're both just doing our jobs for our teams. She'll be bitterly disappointed that she's lost the game.
“I'm delighted that we've won the game, but it's a game, so we'll still catch up afterwards and everything's just going to be exactly the same.”
Asked whether her time at City provided any tactical insight, Crichton explained: "The way they went about the game was virtually what we expected. They're a talented group with a strong squad.
“I felt the way we conducted ourselves nullified a lot of the threats they've shown. A lot of people might have looked at that as a team that were really going to go and blow us away today.
“Ultimately, Glasgow City have got three points this afternoon, but they were in a really good game against a top team as well."
The defeat means Rangers slip off the top of the table, with City leapfrogging both them and Celtic into first place.
With a game in hand against champions Hibernian on Wednesday, City have the opportunity to extend their advantage further, and Crichton admitted the win might give them a “psychological edge.”
Rangers, meanwhile, turn their attention to the SWPL Cup, where they will host SWPL 2 side St Johnstone next weekend. While many may expect a commanding scoreline, Crichton admitted she would rather have the chance to immediately face City again: "If it was my preference, I would play Glasgow City tomorrow again to try and make myself feel better.
“But the cup is always a nice distraction that you can go and shift your focus. It is going to be a really big couple of weeks for the club. Any opportunity to get on the grass and play competitive games in this type of environment with that group is really exciting."
Rangers return to league action away to Hibernian the following Sunday, another crucial test in the title race, and a chance to reclaim some of the “psychological edge” lost against City.