The Goodison Park centre-back reveals he couldn’t bring himself to watch Match of the Day and closed his ears to the pundits putting the boot in.

And Williams dreaded embarking on the school run when he found himself in the deepest pit of despair with a season heading towards a relegation scrap. But life has changed under Big Sam with one win earned with the new boss watching in the stands. The other with him on the touchline.

Suddenly football life is bearable again for Williams as he prepares to face Merseyside rivals Liverpool in their own intimidating backyard.

It will be only four days from the seven-goal demolition job on Spartak Moscow in the Champions League – but Williams is ready to stand strong in Everton’s defensive wall.

Williams said: “I always felt through this period that it was difficult – everyone found it difficult, especially the players. You don’t want to watch Match of the Day. I hadn’t been able to do for a while.

“You really don’t want to take the kids into school. But at the same time you have got to live with it. You have got to go and show your face to the fans in the car park after a game.

“I always tried to stay as positive as I could and hope that rubbed off on the lads. That they would understand, yeah it hurts but what happened yesterday doesn’t have to affect tomorrow. You learn from it and put it to bed.

“It’s not nice and I don’t think anybody would enjoy that. I have been there myself before this season – and this season you just want to internalise yourself a little bit and not listen to the rest of the noise.

“It will only affect you in a negative way. You switch off and start looking at yourself a little bit more. What’s going on in the dressing room and in your building and with the team.

“Just try and focus on that and let everybody else talk about it. Also, I think playing for Everton you are under a lot more scrutiny. It’s a bigger club and there’s more expectation.

“When things aren’t going well you hear about it a lot more. I think this has been one of the more challenging when you have to really dig in and look at yourself.

“I’m sure I will look back on this period and think what I learned about myself. I think a lot of the lads, and the young lads, will get a lot from this period. Hopefully, we will perform a lot better now, get more points and go up the table.”

Williams believes that Everton are now safer in Allardyce’s hands and adds: “He’s been really good. I think he dealt with the first few days really well. He was quite relaxed.

“But at the same time he stamped his authority on the group. He’s an imposing man and he made it clear he was the boss. He didn’t come in throwing his weight around, though.

“He made everyone feel comfortable and on the pitch he has made certain things clear now where he wants us to play. Off the pitch, he has given us guidelines on how to behave like professionals in terms of getting plenty of rest.”

Rest will be in short supply when Williams and Co come up against on-fire Philippe Coutinho, Sadio Mane, Mo Salah and Bobby Firmino at Anfield when everyone expects they’ll be given the runaround.

Williams laughs when he’s told Everton’s 30-something have been nicknamed “Dad’s Army” but says: “Is that what they’re calling us? Not really that bothered to be honest.”

Ashley Williams was speaking at Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice, Liverpool, where he met young patients and their families as part of Everton’s annual Christmas campaign.

The staff at Zoe’s Place provide support 24 hours a day for both a child and their family. They are there to offer respite care through the most difficult of times to ensure the needs of the child and their families are met.