ReactionRachael Laws on Spurs draw, Haug header and Bonner display
Rachael Laws hailed Sophie Roman Haug after the striker scored her first goal in Liverpool FC Women's 1-1 draw at Tottenham Hotspur Women on Sunday.
The Norway international’s second-half header, from a pinpoint Yana Daniels delivery, earned Matt Beard’s side a hard-fought point in the capital and keeps them fifth in the Barclays Women’s Super League table as a result.
For Haug it is a first strike since her summer switch from Roma - and afterwards Laws told Liverpoolfc.com she was delighted for her new teammate.
“She’s been working really hard since she had that injury on her nose and her face,” the Reds goalkeeper said. “It really took her back a couple of weeks, but you can see in training she’s been working towards that goal.
“I actually said to her last night, ‘I’ve got a good feeling, Soph, I think you’re going to score’ so maybe I should say that more often!
“But yeah, the girls are really pleased for her. Like I say, she’s been working really hard and she deserves that one today.”
Liverpool found themselves behind after Celin Bizet gave Spurs a first-half lead at Brisbane Road, but fought back strongly after the break, with Beard switching to a 3-5-2 formation in a bid to turn things around.
“I think we were really disappointed with the first 45,” Laws said. “We didn’t get going. I think we were lucky to go in only 1-0 down.
“But then in the second half, once the change of formation came in, we looked better, we looked solid, we started to play a little bit more.
“Overall, [we are] happy with a point, because I think either team probably could have nicked it at the end.”
Asked whether the result shows the side’s progress this season, she added: “I think so, and it shows the depth we’ve got. The people who have come off the bench did a job today.
“Looking back at last year, we did lose here, and we probably would have lost again if we hadn’t grown. This season, even the first four or five games, you can see as a team that we’re lifting each other, we’re growing together and I think today shows massive growth in the team and the depth we’ve got as well.”
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Laws also found time to praise defender Gemma Bonner, who delivered a fine display at the heart of the Reds defence.
“Bonner was fantastic,” she said. “I don’t think there are enough superlatives to sum her up at the moment.
“Some of the blocks and the tackles, she made a tackle in the second half, they were claiming a penalty but it was nowhere near, it was a fantastic last-ditch tackle, and that’s what you get from Bonner.
“She’s been fantastic from pre-season and this is where everybody sees the hard work she’s put in. Everyone in front of me was solid today, they made my job a little bit easier, but I thought the standout player today for me was Bonner. Fantastic.”