On-loan Crystal Palace midfielder Jonny Williams says he enjoys his visits to his parent club’s great rivals’ Brighton’s Amex Stadium, despite the less than friendly welcome. The 20-year-old Wales international was one of Town’s top performers during Saturday’s 2-0 victory over the Seagulls, creating the second goal for Daryl Murphy.
Williams, who was booed from the start and called a ‘Palace reject’, says he was expecting some attention from the home support and believed it fired him up.
"I knew I was going to come here and get a bit of stick because of the Palace connection and I thought I responded in the right way,” he said.
"It’s one of those things which makes you more nervous I’ve found. I was able to cope with it and enjoyed it.
"I enjoyed the game today, I thought everyone was fantastic, from the tactics to the performance. I actually enjoyed getting booed, it was quite fun! It was a fun day.”
He says the Amex is one of his favourite grounds, having helped Palace to a play-off semi-final victory at the end of last season.
The Kent-born player felt the Blues were worth the victory for their display after the break: "I’m delighted with the performance, from myself and the other players, I thought they were fantastic, especially in the second half.
"I thought we coped with the Brighton pressure and the way they moved the ball. We sorted it out in the second half and were able to move on and get two goals and take the three points.
"They had a lot of chances, to be fair, but I thought [we deserved it for] the way we performed in the second half, the defending from crosses and everything about the performance. For all the nice football, we won 2-0. Football’s a funny game.
"Overall, we deserved it for pure effort and the way we played in the second half was fantastic.”
Williams celebrated creating Town’s second goal in some style - even before Aaron Cresswell pulled down his shorts - which he says was a result of a frustrating campaign up to now, having suffered an ankle injury in September which kept him out for almost three months.
"I think it was a build-up of my season so far with the injuries and being in and out of the team [at Palace],” he said.
"It was tough and I think that really harmed my season in the Premiership, which I worked so hard for last year.
"That was a shame but it’s good to get out to a great club full of great players with a great manager and I’ve really enjoyed my time at Ipswich so far. It’s mainly been ups and hopefully I can continue that if I stay here.
"Today I felt part of something special, part of a team again, which is vital for me, and I think that’s the way it came out when we scored.
"I was delighted to celebrate with the fans. It was almost like I scored in a way. I saw the [disallowed] goal I scored in the first half and it was actually onside, which was a shame but it was a good way to respond.”
He wasn’t even too disappointed to be taken off six minutes from time: "A lot of players don’t like getting subbed but in that circumstance I was happy. I thought I performed to an OK standard and I felt like I’d done my job.
"It was a shame that I didn’t get 90 minutes but I trust the manager and he trusts me and I think it was a good decision.”
Williams has been impressed with Blues boss Mick McCarthy since he joined Town: "He’s been fantastic. I’d only seen him on TV before I came here so I didn’t know how he was going to be but he’s been first class. I think he’s a great manager and he’s been fantastic with me.
"He’s eased me into the team, I didn’t start the first two games, I came off the bench. Now I’ve started the last two and I feel part of something special, which is nice because it’s been a hard season for me, if we’re going to be honest. Today I felt good again.”
Having moved themselves to five points from the play-off zone, Williams believes the week to come will prove pivotal for Town: "I think the next two home games against Derby and Nottingham Forest will decide whether we’re in it or not. They’re going to be huge and if we can get points there it’ll be exciting.”
His spell with the Blues is currently up at the end of the month but he says he’d be happy to stay on for the remainder of the campaign: "I’ll probably find out next week when the emergency loan window shuts.
"But if Palace aren’t going to play me and if I was only going to play in the reserves, I’m happy to stay here and play. If we’re going to have more days like that, I’d be happy to stay until the end of the season.”