Williams: 'The kind of performance these fans expect'

Lyndon Lloyd Wednesday, 14 December, 2016 27comments | Jump to most recent

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Ashley Williams says the unity and fight that Everton showed against Arsenal can carry the Blues through against Liverpool on Monday and should set the tone for the rest of the season.

Backed by an atmosphere unprecedented in Ronald Koeman's tenure at Goodison Park so far, Everton came back from a goal down to beat the highly-fancied Gunners and, hopefully, put their season on a new course after two months of faltering form.

For Williams, there was an element of personal redemption in scoring the winning goal in the 86th minute. after a good start to his Toffees career, the Welsh skipper's form has dipped recently and it was his deflection on alexis Sanchez's 20th-minute free kick that deceived Maarten Stekelenburg as Arsenal took the lead.

Like the team as a whole, he recovered to put in a passionate display, capped by his header that he despatched past Petr Cech to set the home side up to earn three vital points.

There was a sense afterwards that something that shifted in the camp and that Koeman's men had responded to justifiable criticism of their recent performances which had yielded just one win in 10 games.

“I like to think we answered those questions but now we have to build on it and make sure it's not just one game,” Williams said in the Liverpool Echo.

“The way we responded and fought for each other, our work rate, the way we closed them down, the way we were tackling was brilliant to see.”

“That's the kind of performance these fans expect,” he added. “The fight was there with a bit of quality too. It's an Arsenal team which has been unbelievable this season and if we can perform like that against them, we should be able to do it every week.”

Everton will need a similarly spirited performance in Monday's Merseyside derby which a Blues side has won just in 19 attempts. You can sample some free bet offers if you fancy their chances against the enemy from across the Park.

“More than the win, which we desperately needed, we wanted to protect the unbeaten home record as well,” Williams continued. “The way we performed and stuck together for each, all backing each other up, that's what we need to do on Monday. It's a happy dressing room. a tired one, but happy.”

“It wasn't a great first 20 and we knew we had to inspire them a bit,” he said.

“It's the best since I have been here. A night game, that kind of noise, it doesn't let you get tired, keeps driving you on. They were brilliant.”

“I'm sure they will be louder on Monday. It will be my first derby and I've not experienced it before. Sure it will be unbelievable.”

Reader Comments (27)

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Paul Hewitt
1 Posted 14/12/2016 at 23:33:16

That is the type of performance I expect EVERY game.

Oscar Huglin
2 Posted 14/12/2016 at 23:52:31

So, so excited for Monday now. Carry the atmosphere over.

Andrew Presly
3 Posted 15/12/2016 at 01:37:07

Appreciate this is a snippet from an interview but come on Ash, the Watford and Southampton performances are the galling ones. It's not good showing up when it's mainstream.

Sounds like the dressing room is united which is good but I can't remember a Blues side I respected less than this lot. Flimsy of spirit.

Why was the wall for the Sanchez free kick 15 yards back? Nobody in this team makes it 8 yards.

Victor Jones
4 Posted 15/12/2016 at 04:04:19

Just hope that Koeman does not feel the need to change much. And let's hope that this current starting eleven can produce a similar performance and result on Monday. We have flattered to decieve before. But that was mainly with Martinez in charge. I think that I am right in saying that after beating Chelsea (last season) 2-0. We then did not win for eight matches. That's Everton. But this is now Everton under Koeman. Let's see just exactly what these players are made off.

We can beat Liverpool.

The supporters deserved that win the other night ...We now deserve a proper run of form through Christmas. COYBs ..don't disappoint...

Andy Williams
5 Posted 15/12/2016 at 08:16:46

Andrew, the wall was so far back as Sanchez moved the ball back after the line for the wall was sprayed. Clever little bugger.

Denis Richardson
6 Posted 15/12/2016 at 10:48:02

Good to hear the dressing room is united and something has 'clicked'.

We've generally had crap xmas periods in recent years, especially Martinez's 14-15 season which is when I believe he should have been shown the door. Truly hope this result has lit a fire under the players arses and they realise how much the crowd can lift them if they show some passion and aggression.

Looking forward to Monday – if the team play like they did last game, the crowd will be right behind them and the RS certainly won't be up for it.

To play that kind of game you need stamina and pace and for me I think Barry not being in the side on Tuesday played its part. Nothing against him but we've got to try and keep younger legs in the engine room.

No one in the team deserves to be dropped after that game and an unchanged side would give the starting XI confidence that if they deliver they keep their place, even Lennon and McCarthy.

Xmas not looking so gloomy now...

Denis Richardson
7 Posted 15/12/2016 at 10:50:20

I forgot to add, Gana is pure class and would walk into any team in the league.

I hope he's on a long contract with no release clauses. He's only been here a few months but he's the best player we have in the whole club. If we can bring in a couple more gems like him we'd be some side.

Ray Roche
8 Posted 15/12/2016 at 11:26:08

Andrew, Andy, the wall was paced out by Clattenberg using the sort of steps kids make. Big, long-legged ones which kept the wall further back but still allowed an "up and over" kick. I didn't notice the ball being moved back as well. We commented that we'd not seen a 10 yards as long as that for years, especially as refs now use those little mincey walks for eight yards and then piss about with their shaving foam.

Brent Stephens
9 Posted 15/12/2016 at 12:58:23

Ray, we all went ballistic in the Upper Bullens when we saw the strides Clattenburg was taking. Our American friends have a measuring device in American football, to gauge the 10 yards to the inch – Clattenburg should be obliged to carry one around with him.

Pity they don't have such a device for measuring head sizes – maybe they do and theirs doesn't fit him.

Ray Roche
10 Posted 15/12/2016 at 13:17:35

Brent, I know his wig doesn't fit as well as he probably thinks it does. Looks like he's got some road kill on his head.

Brent Stephens
11 Posted 15/12/2016 at 13:21:14

What a terrible thought, Ray. That's the last time I eat roadkill. Ugh / shudder.

Derek Thomas
12 Posted 15/12/2016 at 14:01:50

Clattenberg's stride size is irrelevant, Sanchez hit it low in the gap between Williams and the rest of the wall, so up over and down is not relevant... doesn't mean he isn't a twat though.

Shane Corcoran
13 Posted 15/12/2016 at 14:23:55

Are some suggesting that Clattenburg took longer steps because it was a free against Everton?

Barry Jones
14 Posted 15/12/2016 at 14:27:59

Brent, that's a great idea about having a 10-yard measure that the ref (and assistant) can use.

Brent Stephens
15 Posted 15/12/2016 at 14:40:02

Derek, right on all counts especially the last one.

Chris Williams
16 Posted 15/12/2016 at 15:49:44

Would be nice not to concede first on Monday. Make a nice change that.

Peter Gorman
17 Posted 15/12/2016 at 17:46:40

To date, I've been expecting far more from Williams than he has shown. The captain of Swansea before we signed him, he has been as quiet as a mouse on the pitch and not the man many hoped would put the much needed boot into the posteriors of the usual suspects.

His performance in the first half was absolutely stinking but he came good in the second, made some great interceptions and capped it all off with the goal.

I hope that this is now him bedded in. He is not the new kid at school anymore, I want to see him commanding the team as he should and demanding this level of commitment in every game.

Darren Hind
18 Posted 15/12/2016 at 18:21:38

Jagielka committed the foul on the edge of the 18-yard line. the wall was a couple of yards in front of the 6-yard box.
It was as close to ten yards as you could get.

Sanchez is a crafty little bastard for rolling the ball back

Ray Roche
19 Posted 15/12/2016 at 18:28:23

Shane, I'm saying Clattenberg took the CORRECT length of strides on THAT occasion but I wager he doesn't stride quite as long as that normally. Just like most referees who take baby steps these days. That's why someone marking out ten proper yards makes it appear like fifteen.

Patrick Murphy
20 Posted 15/12/2016 at 18:30:08

I'm still not sure that Jags deserved his second booking, it doesn't even seem to be a foul but I am not known for being unbiased in these situations.

Mick Davies
21 Posted 15/12/2016 at 18:30:43

Chris, I saw a strange stat on SSN that Everton have saved more points from losing positions than any other club in the Premier League!!!

Dean Adams
22 Posted 15/12/2016 at 18:58:31

Patrick, I thought it harsh, especially when compared to so many fouls that have been ignored again this season by many teams. It probably evens out, but not in this universe!!

Bob Parrington
23 Posted 15/12/2016 at 00:07:42

Patrick, it was clearly not a bookable offence. Accidental trip at the worst. Clattenberg has turned out to be a decent ref after a pretty awful start to his EPL career. But he would not be human if he didn't make the odd mistake.

Kevin Naylor
24 Posted 16/12/2016 at 14:59:25

Could have easily given the penalty on Sanchez by Barkley at the end, maybe he remembered the Carragher Lescott one he didnt give a few years ago.

Terry White
25 Posted 16/12/2016 at 15:10:48

Brent (#9), the "measuring device" you mention used in American Football to gauge the 10 yards (a device that is used throughout the game) is two bloody big poles with a length of chain in between. I cannot see any of our refs being too keen to carry that around in their pockets as you suggest. Would be an interesting visual though.

Jay Harris
26 Posted 16/12/2016 at 15:32:23

Kevin,

I think you're talking about Mirallas's challenge in the last few minutes which looked a nailed on penalty but video replays actually showed that Mirallas got to the ball first and it was not a penalty.

If Jags got 2 yellows for 2 fouls then what was Coquelin doing still on the pitch? Clattenburg is smarter these days. He is just subtle enough to not be accused of bias but, just like his mate Martin Atkinson, he is a closet red.

Brent Stephens
27 Posted 16/12/2016 at 15:51:50

Terry (#25) – yes, just joking about Clattenburg carrying that measuring device – I guess he's got enough with that chip on his shoulder. How about a piece of string to the exact length? Or a piece of string tied from one leg to the other so he can only stride one yard at a time?

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