Grant 'Frustrated' After Semi-Final Defeat

Ciara Grant was “frustrated” after Hibernian Women’s 2-1 defeat to Glasgow City in the Sky Sports Cup Semi-Final at Meadowbank, which saw the side bow out of the competition. 

Nicole Kozlova opened the scoring for the visitors in additional time at the end of the first half, with Chloe Warrington then doubling City’s lead in the 55th minute. 

Hibs did get a goal back, however, coming the way of returning midfielder Kirsten Reilly with a beautiful free kick from 20 yards from goal - but Hibs could not go on and get the equaliser they were looking for, and Glasgow City booked their place in the Sky Sports Cup final. 

“Frustrated is the first word that comes to mind,” Grant told HibsTV. 

“We dominated and played well for a large majority of the game, but we just didn’t execute any of our chances, and it’s a cup game; anything can happen, and it’s just not really good enough from us. I think the group’s frustrated at the moment.” 

A direct long ball from former Hibs loanee goalkeeper Erin Clachers was not dealt with by the Hibees defence, and Kozlova burst through and poked the ball past Schumacher just seconds before the half-time interval, and Grant described it as “the worst time to concede” after the match.

“I think that's sport, isn't it? I think it's the worst time to concede a goal in a game, and we know that, and then it kind of changes the mood maybe of the dressing room at half-time.”

“I think we came out showing what we can do again and started the second half, and then to concede again, I think, just maybe pushed us back, but I think it shows the kind of attitude of the group, to go back and get our goal and have maybe a few chances after that, but again, it wasn't enough.”

Hibs got their goal back through Kirsten Reilly just after the hour mark, but unfortunately for Grant and her teammates, they couldn’t get that equaliser, and the game “just didn’t fall their way” according to the experienced midfielder. 

“I think there were a few nice crosses into the box, and maybe on another day they land to us and we get a better connection, but yeah, it just didn't fall our way today at all.” 

With now just the league to focus on for the Hibees, Grant believes the side “need to stick together as a group”, as we look ahead to our final two matches ahead of the split against Motherwell and Aberdeen, respectively. 

“I think a lot of our recent results have been quite close. So once the split comes, I think there are going to be some really competitive games ahead of us.” 

“I think in sport, momentum is a funny thing. I think it's a wee bit against us at the moment, but all it takes is a flick of the switch, and it can start going our way. So I think we as a group just need to stick together, and we've got a really good group of girls there.

“I think we just need to keep working on the things that we know we need to get better at, and hopefully we can start getting some better performances in.”