Portsmouth winger explains what it's like to be in pressured promotion battle with Rotherham, Coventry, Sunderland, Wycombe, Ipswich, Oxford and Fleetwood

Ryan Williams is revelling in the pressure of the exciting League One promotion race.
Ryan Williams celebrates breaking the deadlock against Rochdale. Picture: Robin JonesRyan Williams celebrates breaking the deadlock against Rochdale. Picture: Robin Jones
Ryan Williams celebrates breaking the deadlock against Rochdale. Picture: Robin Jones

The winger revealed it’s the sort of situation every footballer wants to be in as Pompey moved up to third in the table with a 3-0 win over Rochdale last night.

Williams opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time before goals from Steve Seddon and Christian Burgess ensured Kenny Jackett’s men registered a 10th successive win at Fratton Park.

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As a result, Pompey leapfrogged Wycombe and sit just two points behind leaders Rotherham and second-placed Coventry.

The scramble for a spot in Championship continues to intrigue, with the top nine sides in the division all holding genuine claims of going up.

There’s little margin for error, with Jackett’s troops well aware their rivals will take advantage should they slip up during the business end of the campaign.

Yet it’s a scenario that Williams will continue to relish.

The Aussie said: ‘It’s great and it’s exactly what you play for, isn't it.

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‘We’ve managed to get ourselves in this position and it is a really exciting position.

‘As a football player, you want pressure because if you’ve got pressure then it means you're playing at a high level.

‘You're trying to go upwards rather than downwards. Obviously, you can have pressure to go down but here the pressure is to go up.

‘Everyone has got their sights on it. There is no denying that.

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‘But we have got to keep doing what we’re doing and try not to think about it too far ahead.’

Pompey continued their unbeaten record at Fratton Park in the league by putting lowly Rochdale to the sword.

The home form has been the hallmark to the Blues’ success, although they haven't got things on their travels quite right.

Jackett’s men have four big away games against promotion contenders Peterborough, Oxford, Ipswich and Rotherham approaching.

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Williams is well aware how crucial those fixtures will be in the pursuit of finishing in the top two.

He added: ‘We have some really tough away games coming up.

‘We've got Peterborough, Oxford, Ipswich and Rotherham and they are going to be tough.

‘I think they are going to be tough but if we can grind out results then at home we’re great.

'If we can get through the first half without conceding then everything opens up for us in the second half going towards the Fratton End.’

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