Women's

Whelan: We put our bodies on the line

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Goalscorer Aileen Whelan says Albion’s never-say-die attitude was the difference in a crucial 1-0 win over Liverpool in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League.

By Bruce Talbot • 05 January 2020

By Kyle Hemsley
Aileen Whelan celebrates scoring against Liverpool.

Whelan scored her third goal of the season to settle a tense encounter at The People’s Pension Stadium and lift the Seagulls up to ninth in the table.

She said, “We knew coming into the game that we needed three points.

“Just before we came out we found out that Bristol City had beaten Manchester United, so that was added pressure. We put our bodies on the line – we weren’t leaving today without three points.”

Liverpool pressed strongly during the second half for an equaliser and Whelan commended the defensive resilience shown throughout the team. 

By Kyle Hemsley
Aileen Whelan looks for a way past Niamh Fahey.

She added, “We dropped points in the last few minutes against Reading and Chelsea at home, so we could have been higher up the table, but you can’t change the past – you have to look forward and three points at the start of the new year is really important. 

“That’s why it was so important for us today. We had to defend well at times but we did our jobs out there and it's a really big three points for us.

“We’ve held Chelsea and beaten Arsenal, so we like to think we make it hard for teams at home. We perhaps showed a little bit more quality on the ball today and that made the difference."

Whelan's close-range goal came after good work by Maya Le Tissier to set her up in the 34th minute.

“As a striker you always want to be in and around the box," said Whelan. "It doesn’t have to be a worldie – every goal counts and it was great to put that chance away today and help get us three points."