Marcus Rashford the inspiration as Ro-Shaun Williams and Doncaster Rovers bounce back

Like Rashford, the Doncaster Rovers central defender has done so rather well.

Williams began December with a shocker at home to Walsall, at fault for both goals in a 2-0 defeat. The team as a whole had a Boxing Day to forget, booed off by the away fans after losing 3-0 at Tranmere Rovers.

It happens.

Rashford, one of the most gifted forwards in the country, had a disappointing 2020-21 which even threatened his involvement in the World Cup, but has been in some of the best form of his life since, scoring three goals in Qatar and 12 for his Manchester United this season.

It is relevant to Williams because his former team-mate, at Fletcher Moss Rangers and in the Red Devils youth system, is a close friend – family in his eyes – and was even at Carlisle United on New Year's Day to see Doncaster respond to the Tranmere defeat by recording their first back-to-back wins under Schofield.

It showed Williams and his team-mates have responded in the right way. The defender apologised to his team-mate after the Walsall loss and coach Danny Schofield kept faith with the 24-year-old, a substitute on Boxing Day but a starter in every other game since.

The Prenton Park pounding was quickly made the blip in a run of four matches, the other three won, which have put the League Two play-offs in sight and nicely set up Saturday's trip to leaders Leyton Orient.

Seeing Rashford's struggles put Williams' setbacks into perspective.

"The difficult times and pressure are nothing compared to him – the size of the club, Manchester United, the amount of followers on Instagram, all that stuff, playing on Sky every week," he argues.

"I've seen him go through a lot of difficult periods and I know how he worked hard and took time to get a break and that's shown with his performances this season. I'm happy for him, proud of him.”

Williams knows how lucky he is.

"I'm privileged to be able to drive to this football club and train, play games, all my family are healthy and okay,” he says. “Some people are going through difficult times so when I come into football I'm just thankful. I thank God and when I'm here I crack on and try to perform my best."

And the presence of a Premier League superstar watching him at Brunton Park did not add any pressure on Williams.

"I've known him since I was a kid, I played local football with him before we were at United so I see him as like family, it's the same as my mum, dad or brother coming to watch me," he argues. "Marcus watching me is the same as if one of my mates who works at Amazon comes to a game, I'd still want to play well because someone's taken time out of their day to watch me."

Schofield has been impressed with the way his players quickly put Tranmere behind them.

"The bounce back from the lads and the way they reflected – we were all honest and open – and implemented things we'd discussed together made that a blip rather than a big negative, so credit to the players," he says.

"It's always difficult (being booed by your own fans). I speak a lot about creating positive energy throughout the club.

"I can totally understand it (the fans' reaction) – the performance and the result against Tranmere were not what we wanted – but I'm the kind of person who tries to reflect and take the positives out of things if possible, and then moves on to the next one.

"We've got a really good group of people who are football players and that's just as important as them being good footballers.

"They were honest about their own performances and towards me, saying they could do better. We moved on from the Tranmere game quickly and performed much better.

"Particularly in the Rochdale game we showed a different side to us which I knew the players had to grind out the result and I thought the Carlisle performance – particularly the first half – was probably our best since I've been in this role."

Williams says it comes from confidence in the coach.

"We know we're a good team with very good individual players, especially in attacking areas,” he stresses. “It's just about consistency.

"We've got a young squad, not that much experience within the squad, so it's difficult to be consistent week in, week out.

"It's just about confidence and belief in the way we play, the style of play and the manager's philosophy.

"We need to work hard as a squad and me personally.

"Orient are league leaders and they're a big challenge, especially away from home. We had a good game against them, 1-1 at home, so it's just about us taking our game to them, nullifying their threats and coming out with the three points if possible."