Christmas is crucial says Williams
Posted on 14th December 2006
Hartlepool United player Darren Williams believes that the next couple of weeks could shape the season for Pools. The League Two side are about to enter the crucial festive period with a fixture against Rochdale this weekend.
"Christmas time is a massive time in the season because there are a lot of games and a lot of points available to make up ground on the teams at the top," Williams said. "It is such an important time in the season and we want to go into it on the back of another win. There are a lot of important games coming up and if we can stay in touch up there then we can go into January in a good position. The other side of it is if we have a difficult time it is hard to recover from. We saw it last season when we didn't get the results we wanted over Christmas and it put a dampener on us into the New Year. I am not saying that we are exactly on cloud nine at the moment but we have got ourselves into a decent position and we want to continue that."
Williams has recently lost his place in Hartlepool United's side to club captain Micky Barron following a calf injury. Williams is now itching to get back into the side. Barron himself looked a doubt earlier in the week after limping off in last weekend's 2–0 victory at Bristol Rovers with a knee knock. But he has trained this week and is favourite to lead out the side against struggling Rochdale. Williams – who handed in a transfer request in the summer – admitted his agitation at sitting on the sidelines.
"It has been frustrating at the moment being on the bench these last few games but that is the price you pay for getting injured," he said. "I am just waiting for my chance to get back in and I am hoping it will be sooner rather than later. I pushed myself to get back perhaps a week early after being out but that is just because I wanted to play. But I feel fine now and ready for it. I am taking it game by game and waiting and hopefully I will get a chance tomorrow."
Earlier Hartlepool United news
Adjustment has finally been madeClark ends wait for goalWilson praise Boland's influenceClark not bothered about missing out on ChelseaWe deserved the result – WilsonPools appeal against decisionThe referee made a mistake – WilsonBarron wants job done first time outWilson extends sympathy to MacclesfieldWilson to ask Hull to reconsiderWilson warns of Macclesfield testAdmirable performance says WilsonTurnbull joins Bury on loanPools still looking for a new faceResult was more important – Wilson