- Nicola Docherty admitted Rangers “didn’t do enough” as Celtic ended their unbeaten Old Firm run at Hampden.
- Captain stressed finals must be earned, rejecting reliance on previous results against Celtic.
- Docherty called for reflection and urged Rangers to return “like a different animal” next season.
Rangers Women captain Nicola Docherty admitted her side “didn’t do enough” in their Scottish Cup final defeat to Celtic at Hampden Park, as the Ibrox side’s unbeaten run against their Old Firm rivals came to a decisive end.
Celtic’s 1-0 victory, secured through Morgan Cross’s first-half finish, not only denied Rangers a third consecutive Scottish Cup but also inflicted a first loss to Grant Scott’s side in over two years, ending an 11-game unbeaten sequence.
For Leanne Crichton’s team, it was a painful conclusion to a season that had already seen disappointment in the SWPL title race and a heavy defeat to Glasgow City on the final day.
Hampden offered a chance of redemption, but Rangers were left frustrated by missed opportunities and a lack of cutting edge despite periods of pressure.
Nicola Docherty laments end of Old Firm streak
Reflecting on the defeat, Docherty was frank in her assessment of where the game was decided.
“Yeah, of course. We’ve obviously had great previous results against Celtic,” she said.
“When you get to a Scottish Cup final, you’ve got to earn the right to win. And we’ve not done enough of that today. They’ve obviously got the better of us today.
“And that’s the sore one of being part of a Scottish Cup final. Somebody’s got to lose it. Just obviously gutted that that was us today.”
Celtic win Cup despite red card
Rangers had begun brightly, with Mia McAuley striking the post in the first half before Celtic capitalised on defensive uncertainty to take the lead. From there, the Hoops managed the game effectively, limiting Rangers’ clear chances even as Crichton’s side pushed for an equaliser.
Despite Celtic being reduced to ten players late on following Emma Lawton’s dismissal, Rangers were unable to find a breakthrough, with the Hoops’ defence holding firm through six minutes of stoppage time.
Nicola Docherty accepts blame for barren season
Docherty accepted responsibility within the dressing room, stressing the need for reflection after a season that will end without silverware.
“I’ll reflect on it massively. I’m a player that takes a lot of responsibility and hopefully my teammates do the same,” she said.
“Because it’s a game that we’ve really got to reflect on.
“I thought there was more than enough in the dressing room to go and get that result today. And you can never base previous results against Celtic in a Scottish Cup final. These games, like I’ve said previously, you’ve got to earn the right to do that.
“And we’ve not done enough today to go and do that.”
The Rangers skipper also highlighted the emotional challenge of responding to such setbacks but insisted the squad must regroup and return stronger.
“You’ve got to learn from these moments. It’s difficult as a footballer,” she admitted.
“We’re not robots and we’re not going to just move on from this,” she said. “We’ve got to make sure that we reflect and learn.
“But I want everybody to come back to pre-season like a different animal. That’s what I expect from my teammates. That’s what I expect from myself. To make sure that we go and kick on for next season.”
Readrangers.com analysis – Jack Cranmer
The defeat leaves Rangers ending the campaign without a trophy for the first time since 2021, with pressure set to build on Crichton following a season of regression in key moments. For Docherty, however, the focus is already turning towards renewal rather than regret.
