Hamilton Accies Women coach Gary Doctor admits his side must learn quickly from a 6-0 thrashing against Glasgow City, as they head into their SWPL opener at Hearts on Sunday.
Accies needed a draw or a slender win for Spartans against Glasgow Girls, but they won 4-0, while Glasgow City ran riot at New Douglas Park to see both winners progress to the quarter-finals.
Doc argues that full-time City are operating at a Champions League level, while Accies are just happy to be back in the top flight.
He said: “It’s really difficult when you’re playing the best team in the country – who are at Champions League level and have been the best team over 15 years – and you’re looking to get a result to qualify.
“We took four points from the first two games and we’re quite happy with that.
“Going into that final game it gave us a chance, and ultimately it’s goal difference that has done for us, so it’s just one of these things.
“They’re top, top professionals, and that’s what they are – it was hard enough when we are all part-time.”
While there have been some almighty tussles against Hearts in recent years, both clubs have changed significantly, and will see it as a winnable game.
Doctor says he can already sense a buzz of excitement amongst the players.
“We’re just happy to be back playing in the top league, and getting back to league business this weekend is certainly something that we’ll look forward to,” he said.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do, it’s going to be a long year, and it starts now.
“We’ve had a few battles in the lower divisions with Hearts – not as many in the top division because we’ve kind of taken it in turns.
“It’s a very different squad since then, different management, different approaches, and certainly it’s one that both teams will probably look at as a winnable game.
“The players are looking forward to it, I can tell.
“This is what we were pushing towards, getting in the top league, playing matches in this division, being part of it and all that it brings.
“Like any club, you want to play at the top level, no matter what area you’re in, and this is it now.
“I think it certainly has an element of excitement, and I’m sure we’ll see that in training this week.”
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