MJ Williams has told iFollow that he’s “really enjoying” his football and says Brian Barry-Murphy has given him the “confidence” to play in that role in front of the back four.
Speaking after Dale’s League One fixture v Blackpool, he commented: “I’m loving [playing that role]. I’m really enjoying my football now – I think I’ve come into myself this season.
“Bri has given me the confidence to drop in there, get on the ball and try to start the play off. I don’t think it was there today [against Blackpool] but we’ve got plenty more games to come and we’ll keep playing our football.”
And the 23-year-old believes he has struck up a good connection with centre-half duo Jimmy McNulty and Eoghan O’Connell.
“Jimmy [McNulty] and Bonesy [Eoghan O’Connell] have been brilliant. They’ve helped me out, telling me when to drop in and when not to drop in – we have a good connection.
“And Bobby [Robert Sanchez] in goal has been brilliant – his kicking is one of the best I’ve seen!
“We just need to keep on playing our football and keep on believing in it as well. The fans have also been top drawer as well.”
But praise wasn’t only reserved for the centre-halves and his goalkeeper. Williams has been impressed with 16-year-old Luke Matheson, who has started Dale’s last two league games.
“He’s absolutely brilliant, nothing phases him. He’s had a great week with playing two games and collecting his GCSE results. I didn’t even know that he was such a clever kid!
“He got those results on Thursday and his performances on Tuesday night [against Sunderland] and today [against Blackpool] were brilliant. He looks 16 in his height and in the way he looks, but he has got such a maturity to his game on the pitch. He can go as far as he wants if he keeps working hard. All the boys here will look after him.”
Reflecting on the goalless draw with Blackpool who have yet to be beaten this season and had started the day on Saturday top of the table, Williams was pleased to grind out a point.
“It was a tough point, but I think that’s the sort of game we would have lost in the last couple of seasons.
“We showed a bit of determination to stick in there. We all know that it wasn’t our best day but they came here, they had a game plan and they did well, but we got a 0-0 draw. We’ll take the point and move onto Tuesday.”
Watch the full interview on iFollow.