Milwall goalscorer Leanne Cowan gives us her verdict on last weekend’s loss to Aston Villa at The Den, which saw the visitors net two late goals after the dismissal of Naomi Cole.
Speaking after the match, Lionesses’ star Leanne Cowan gave us her thoughts on the red card, saying, “One decision ruined us today. We worked so hard and we didn’t deserve that.
“I think the Aston Villa player did very well to create the contact, let’s put it that way. I’m going to sit on the fence about it so I can’t get in trouble. She made the most if it and in my book, there’s nothing Nay [Naomi Cole] can do about it because she was just standing there and the girl’s run into her.”
The outcome may have been disappointing for the team but Leanne has cause for celebration after scoring her first senior goal. Although, she admits the circumstances were a bit bewildering, adding, “It’s a bit unreal, really, because I’m more of a full-back, so when Alberto [Curti] said I was playing on the wing, I was like, ‘we’ll see how it goes.’ I was a bit nervous to start with but I got the goal.
“I wasn’t expecting it and it still doesn’t feel like it to be honest. Cherrelle [Albert] was out on the right and showed quick feet to get past the left-back, then she went past the centre-back as well. I was just pulling-off because I was expecting a cut-back but she went for the shot. The keeper palmed it right to me so I slotted it in. It went in off the crossbar, so I nearly missed it! I’m happy overall but I’m gutted with the result.”
Cowan confessed that she isn’t exactly a prolific scorer, in fact this is the first goal she’s actually meant! She revealed; “I’ve only scored two goals before and they were both against Norwich but in different games. The first one, I was playing on the wing again, I charged down the keeper and she kicked the ball in my face and it went in the goal. The other one was left foot from outside the box, it was more of a cross but it went in so I’ll take it.
Finally, Leanne was full of praise for team mate Grace Fisk, who made her first senior start at centre-half. A fellow Centre of Excellence graduate, the pair were two of five in the Lionesses’ starting XI and Leanne believes that is a huge incentive to the youngsters coming through the system.
Leanne added, “Grace did so well. I’m really proud of her, she really deserved it. She was very confident and very calm. She is such a good, naturally talented footballer and I’m just buzzing for her because she had such a good game.
“Last season, when Lily Maple got called up from the Development, that was became the goal for all of us and we’ve all done it together. It’s massive for the club and it pushes on those that aren’t in the squad because it proves that Alberto gives youngsters a chance and he believes in us.”
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