Jo Potter insists she would not swap anyone within her squad for any other Scottish players as Rangers claimed the first silverware of the season.

The Ibrox side retained the Sky Sports Cup with a comfortable 4-1 win over Partick Thistle that may well have come via a significantly wider margin. Goals from 17-year-old Mia McAulay, Rachel Rowe, Rio Hardy and Liv McLoughlin ensured that Thistle’s brief moment of hope after Rachel Donaldson had restored first-half parity was ultimately little more than a footnote in this game. And Potter admitted that the psychological impact of the win can be the catalyst as Rangers look to go and claim a clean sweep this season.

They are currently a point clear at the top of the SWPL and have a Scottish Cup semi-final next month against Celtic to look forward to. “I have said from day one, “ said Potter. “There are winners in that group and it is making them believe they are the best because I believe they are.

“There are not many that I would swap in that room as people and as players. That is big for me that they are such a together group. It can seem like a cliche but that togetherness is there. I am really proud of each and every single one of them because it was a performance of winners.

“It is big. It is all about momentum. The first trophy is always difficult. We are still there to be caught. We are the ones who are at forefront of the league and we are there to be got it – and everyone wants to get us. We expect that and it is how we take that pressure.

“We are already thinking about Hibs next weekend. Nothing is easy coming into the end of the season and we know that it will be tough. It is hard to not look forward at times but there is one trophy there now and we want to make sure we go and enjoy it just now.”

Rangers Women celebrate with the trophy (Image: SNS Group)

Meanwhile Jags boss Brian Graham admitted that he had to make second-half changes as he feared his players been bruised by an embarrassing scoreline at Tynecastle. He said: “We changed shape at half-time and tried to go 3-5-2 to put their back three under pressure because I felt as if we had them scared in the first-half. But when they scored the fourth I didn’t want my girls to get embarrassed, if I am being honest.

“It was my decision to go to a back five and see the game out because I thought we looked a bit leggy and out on feet at that time and Rangers, as the full-time team, had that fitness. It was small margins but when you don’t take chances, Rangers are a good outfit and Rachel Rowe’s goal was quality to put them 2-1 in front but at the same time Rachel Donaldson’s goal was excellent as well.

“The players have been excellent throughout the season, yes it is disappointing at the moment but at the same time you have got to be proud of the group. We came to have a go at Rangers and I felt as if we came out of the blocks really well. We had one cleared off the line at 0-0 and then we lost a sloppy goal.

“I don’t think we deserved to be 3-1 down at half-time line but that is the harsh reality at this level. The challenge for us is to close that gap. For the first 20/25 minutes we were more than a match for them. I was bitterly disappointed for my players. It is now about how we bounce back and my group will do that.”

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