Ryan Williams talks to www.themillers.co.uk...
Livewire winger Ryan Williams insists he and his Millers teammates need to couple a meaner defence with their impressive attack if they are to be challenging at the top end of the Sky Bet League One table come the end of the season, but is pleased with their overall progress so far.
The industrious Australian has proven popular with the AESSEAL New York Stadium faithful since his arrival as a result of his tenacious approach and with his side currently sat in 5th position in the third tier, he admits he is confident they are on course to be in the Play-off shake up if they can replicate the form of their first 15 league matches.
“Obviously to score three goals away from home at Oxford you expect to win the game, so we've just got to tighten up in the first half really and I think we'll do a lot better,” Williams told www.themillers.co.uk.
“It's weird because we lost against Wimbledon and managed to stay in the same place but then we drew against Oxford and ended up dropping a place.
“Hopefully we can carry on with the same points return and, realistically, we're on 25 at the moment so hopefully we can get to around 75.
“75 is usually what’s needed for the Play-offs and we want to get promoted so we need to be in there. If we keep doing what we're doing we’ll do that, but I also think we can be better if we tighten up a little bit.”
Williams continued to stress that despite an attempt at an immediate return to the Championship being a key factor in his decision to join the Millers in the summer, the prospect of promotion is not a topic regularly discussed in the dressing room.
Instead, the 23-year-old, says the focus is very much on the here and now within the group.
“We don't really talk about it too much,” Williams added.
“We honestly just focus on the next team and what we could have done better in the last game. Nobody ever speaks about it.
“For me on a personal note, it's one of the reasons I came here and I said it from the start that it was 100% to get promoted. With the training ground we have now, the stadium and the fans and the way the club is going I’d love to get promoted.”
Meanwhile, Williams has played a pivotal role in helping the Millers become one of the division’s most lethal clubs in front of goal with 28 to their name and the Australian admits that he has been pleased with his contribution so far.
“I feel like I am creating a lot but I feel like I could definitely score more goals,” he explained.
“The goals are flying in at home and they did at the weekend even though we didn't play very well, so it's a good thing.
“When I first came in pre-season, I worked hard but football-wise I didn't have it great. Ever since the Lincoln game I haven't been out the team and I've just tried to make sure I don't drop my standards and keep going every single week.
“Hard work for me is a given. It's just one of those things that you have to do whether you like it or not and it's something that I've done from a young age. Everyone in Australia is competitive, so I think that's part of the reason that I'm competitive and hopefully will stop anyone else getting a sniff.”