‘Of course I meant it’ – Millwall striker breaks down unusual Wednesday winner – and the ‘positive sign’ that shows his growth this season
‘Of course I meant it’ – Millwall striker breaks down unusual Wednesday winner – and the ‘positive sign’ that shows his growth this season.
MACAULAY Langstaff knew precisely what to do when Femi Azeez sped by Tayo Adaramola once more.
The striker lost his marker as he sprinted into the box, then accelerated as Azeez curled a pass into the area.
Langstaff had begun his rush a little early and, with the ball beneath his feet, executed a truly unusual finish. With both feet in the air, the 29-year-old flicked the ball into the near corner using the outside of his right foot.
It was a time of incredible improvisation. “A lot of people have asked me if I meant it, and of course I did,” Langstaff told the newspaper.
“I’m not sure if you could see from the video, but as the cross came in, I saw Femi raise his head, open up to cross the ball, and I actually lost sight of the ball due to the defender in front of me. I could not see the ball.
“I lost sight of it, and by the time I noticed it, it was too late and under my feet. I sort of reacted late and instinctively.
I just tried to adjust and make solid contact. That’s why it appeared a little unusual. “So when I finally saw it, it was late, so I just had to react.
Obviously, I’d prefer to move over instep with my right foot or open up my left foot, but by the time it got to below my feet, it was more of a response than anything.”
Given the difficulties of the finish, it seemed unfathomable that it went into the net, but Langstaff remained confidence after it left his foot.
“I knew I got good contact on it,” Langstaff said. “With such crosses, you don’t always focus on where the ball will go. It’s more about making the best contact you can and staying on target.
The goal completed Millwall’s stunning two-minute comeback after losing 1-0 away to bottom-of-the-league Sheffield Wednesday.After Jamal Lowe scored for the Owls on the hour mark, Langstaff and Tommy Watson were brought on to save the day.
Ten minutes later, Watson sent in a cross that Cole McGhee turned into his own goal, before Langstaff scored to give Millwall the three points.
It was the striker’s third win of the season, following second-half strikes against Norwich City and Bristol City, and his goals added six points to the Lions’ total.
“But I think when you score a winner, it gives you an additional fantastic feeling because you know you’ve truly assisted the squad.
“I understand it’s a cliché, but the most important thing is that the team wins. It’s always satisfying to score an equaliser, a comeback goal, or the winning goal. “But I believe that scoring the winner gives you a better feeling.
I’m feeling confident. I am confident because I have had a lot of minutes recently and the gaffer has trusted me. “I’ve been training well, and there’s a reason he’s put his trust in me:
my performance in training and games. I feel more confident as a result of that, and scoring goals gives me an extra boost.
“As a forward player, you thrive on goals. So when you score, you get a different emotion.
You walk into the stadium, then into the changing room, and there’s a distinct vibe.”Langstaff has already tripled his goal tally from last season in his second year at the club after joining from Notts County in the summer of 2024, where he won the Golden Boot in the National League and League Two in consecutive seasons, and believes he is becoming more accustomed to the Championship, a level he has never played at before.
“I was perhaps a little naive about that. I will confess it. It took me a while. “During the year leading up to this season, I trained every day with incredibly good players and adjusted to that level. I returned, and I believe I had a great pre-season. I was doing quite well.
“It was upsetting because I had a great start to the season, scoring the winning goal on the first day, and then I got hurt the next game. I injured my hip and was out for six weeks. So this set me back a little.
“But in pre-season and training leading up to the season, I felt pretty fantastic and learned a lot. “The Championship has taught me that you must be intellectually alert in order to read the game as it unfolds.
Instead of reacting, you need to be proactive.You must make your movements early since defenders read the game really well, therefore you must be one step ahead of them.
That’s what I’ve learned from being here. “I have played a lot of minutes since Christmas. I ran for the team. Every game, I can feel myself becoming more accustomed to it.
“I’ve missed a lot of chances recently, even ones I should have scored. I understand, but as a striker or forward, I believe it is critical to create opportunities.
When you don’t receive chances, you begin to worry. “Before, I didn’t get those opportunities to miss. Now I’m getting them, and while I’d rather score, the fact that I’m getting those opportunities is a huge plus for me.
“Obviously, I want to attempt to put one in the back of the net, but that shows I’m doing something correctly in the build-up. I’m reading the game, anticipating, and being proactive.
“That’s something I’ve been happy about because I wasn’t getting many chances before, but now I almost always get at least one chance per game. “I’ve scored a few more goals lately.
I’m in a good spot, and I believe that with each day of practicing and playing, I’m becoming more accustomed to this level.
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