The Swansea City and Wales defender will line up at Newcastle today knowing that the Swans are a different proposition to last year.<\/p>\n
It was more than twelve months ago that the Swans went to a side trying to return to the Premier League at the first attempt – they were humbled 4-0 by a Reading side that tore them apart with some ease.\u00a0\u00a0 But a change in manager, new personnel and a different steel to the side has meant that the Swans are now a different proposition to that day at the Madejski as Williams explains.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe definitely won\u2019t make that mistake again,\u201d declared Williams to the Western Mail.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe learnt a lot at Reading last year and that game changed the season for us.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe benefits of those lessons are all evident this season. We know what to do at Newcastle, we know how to adapt to it and we won\u2019t let the occasion stop us playing our game.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe feel we belong at this level. Last year was a big wake-up and we could see we weren\u2019t out of our depth.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the same this season and we just feel like we can go anywhere and win.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously St James\u2019 Park will be massive for us and Newcastle are going great at the top of the league, but we think we can beat anyone.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlaying a team like Newcastle naturally brings the best out of players.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have watched all their players in the Premiership and we know we have to be on the top of our game.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt will be hard to ignore it if we get a result up there,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t mind climbing the table on the quiet, but it will be interesting if people then start opening their eyes to what we do down here.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we can get something from this game, after the results we have already had, it will show how far we have come.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we beat West Brom people might have thought it was just them playing badly on the day.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut, if we get a result at Newcastle too, they might start to believe we are actually up where we belong in this league. It will make this run look very impressive.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s pleasing is that we haven\u2019t conceded many goals and we have done well away from home as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were always strong at home last year, but it wasn\u2019t always the same on our travels.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have addressed that and it\u2019s a different story this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just take it (transfer speculation)\u00a0all as a compliment first and foremost,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s nice to have people talking about you and it shows that you are doing something right.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019d prefer that than not having anyone speaking about you at all.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I still don\u2019t let it get to me because it\u2019s something I got used to when I was at Stockport.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you let it go to your head then your form might well suffer.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat might mean you fall out of favour with your club manager and, if that happens, no-one is talking about you.\u201d<\/p>\n