Bristol City midfielder Joe Williams said he was “delighted” after coming off the bench to assist the winning goal against Blackburn Rovers.
City beat Blackburn 2-1 on Saturday at Ashton Gate thanks to a goal from Nahki Wells provided by the returning Williams.
Today's match winner!
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Given the way Liam Manning’s side played, Willaims saw the result as “a sign we’re in a strong position” and that The Robins are capable of “winning games when we’re not doing too well.”
The 28-year-old has struggled with injury this season and hasn’t played a full 90 minutes since November after suffering an Achilles tendon injury.
Williams said: “I was gutted I was missing over the Christmas period, the lads were doing really well so I’m just delighted to be back amongst it now.”
Williams has only just come back from injury having only been in training with the squad for a week and stating he isn’t currently “fully fit yet”.
His comeback to the squad has been met with competition for individual places in the XI, which Williams says is an overall good thing for the squad.
“We’ve got a load of good players and competition is high as it should be. So, you’ve got to play well to keep your shirt, more than anything you’ve got to back yourself,” Williams said.
“That’s how it has got to be. We have all got to support each other, the lads who are playing and the lads on the bench, it has got to be driven in a good way.”
However, it’s not just in the City midfield where there is competition for places, but rather across every position.
“I think we have got near enough two spots for every position where someone is pushing someone else,” he said.
Looking at the bigger picture the Englishman is confident in The Robins potential to reach the playoff places.
“This is the strongest squad that I’ve been involved in since I’ve been here,” he said.
“As soon as this manager has come in, he has had clarity and everything he wants to do he has stuck to. And we’ve got a strong squad so hopefully we can challenge this year.”
And on a personal level Williams revealed he is confident in his own ability to get back into the starting XI and help the team reach the playoff places.
“I back myself massively to come in and have my own stamp on a game. So I’d back myself to come in and help the lads get results.
“But it’s more about just sticking to what we’ve been doing, if we can tidy a little few bits up we will have a good chance, and we shouldn’t be scared of saying that,” he said.
