Spartans aim for semi-final upset against Hearts

Spartans and Hearts are both hoping to make history in Sunday's Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden.

It's been 10 years since Spartans were last in the final, while Hearts are yet to make it that far. Rangers await in the 26 May showpiece.

In terms of the league, Hearts are the stronger of the two Edinburgh sides, sitting fourth in the table, six places and 31 points above Spartans.

Hearts have also won both SWPL meetings this season, but it was close on each occasion.

"Although it’s our first time at Hampden we won’t have our tourist hats on, just looking around and enjoying the occasion," said Spartans manager Jack Beesley.

"We think they’ll enjoy it more if they come off the pitch feeling like they’ve done everything they could have.

"They might win, they might not, but if you come off and think ‘we embraced the challenge, showed a bit of belief and tried to play in the right way’ then you can sleep at night and not be wrestling with that 15 years down the line."

Hearts were 1-0 winners last time the sides met at Oriam, and in the previous fixture Spartans threw away a 3-0 lead to lose 4-3.

"Normally we are not used to being favourites," said Hearts manager Eva Olid.

"The pressure is on us but we have to be ourselves. If we are ourselves we are not going to have problems."

Alana Marshall was forced off in extra time for Spartans in last weekend's game against Hamilton Accies.

Monica Forsyth, who has yet to feature in the Scottish Cup for Hearts and only made her return to competitive action last month, will be available.

Spartans manager Jack Beesley: "When you look at the fact our girls are working then trying to perform at a certain level, I think it we were to overcome Hearts it would be a massive achievement."

Hearts manager Eva Olid: "We were an amateur team when I arrived, they were bottom of the table and to get to a final in the third season is amazing.

"The players need to forget where they are and play how they know."