Ogilvie stowing the hotseat distractions in Dons test at Gers

Aberdeen vice-captain Francesca Ogilvie says her side’s full attention is on putting in a positive performance against Rangers in SWPL 1 tomorrow.

The Dons travel south to face the reigning champions and newly crowned Sky Sports Cup winners Rangers for their final game of 2022.

It will be Aberdeen’s second game since former co-managers Emma Hunter and Gavin Beith’s resignations and the first since the club advertised the vacancy.

The closing date for applications is Monday, December 19.

Aberdeen academy director and interim women’s team coach Gavin Levey told the Press and Journal he hopes to have a new manager in place sometime in January.

Ogilvie says that Aberdeen’s focus remains on the Rangers game, amid the uncertainty at the club regarding a new boss.

The Dons forward said: “I don’t think as individual players we’re thinking about impressing someone that’s going to come in as the new manager.

“Our main priority and thoughts are on the Rangers game – but hopefully whoever does come in and takes over is impressed with what they might see on Sunday.”

It will be a battle of SWPL 1’s second-top against second-bottom at Broadwood Stadium, but Ogilvie insists Aberdeen are aware of the big challenge they’ll face.

Rangers are undefeated this season and trail current league leaders Glasgow City by one point, while Aberdeen have picked up eight points from 12 games.

Ogilvie said: “We know that Rangers haven’t lost a game yet and they hammered (8-0) us at the start of the season, so we know it’s going to be a tough game against them.

“We know that it’s going to be a lot of defending but we’re prepared to set up like that and then try and hit them on the counter – hopefully we can nick something off them.

“The way the women’s league works, we always get quite a long break over Christmas and New Year, so the game is a chance to try and end things on a positive.

“If we can go into 2023 with a positive result and a positive performance then it definitely helps us kick on when we come back in the new year.”

In Aberdeen’s last game, which was a 1-1 draw with Spartans, Ogilvie scored the opener, which was her second SWPL 1 goal this season.

She hopes to add more goals to her game as the season goes on, especially to avoid being on the receiving end of banter from her teammates.

Ogilvie said: “I had a lot of stick from the girls for missing an open goal and hitting the post against Spartans, so I should’ve had my third goal of the season.

“But the goal I did score is definitely something to motivate me to kick on, it boosts my confidence as a player.”

Francesca Ogilvie is focused on facing Rangers.