Ipswich defender Tommy Smith insists he won’t be haunted by events at Peterborough earlier this season once Saturday’s return fixture at Portman Road is under way.

The embarrassing 7-1 defeat by Posh back in August was the lowest point of Smith’s career as he was red-carded soon after joining the action as a half-time substitute.

But Smith, 21, said: “I won’t be thinking about what happened that day or about getting revenge. As far as I’m concerned it’s another day at the office and we need to get our heads down and pick up the three points.

“It was a tough time for me personally — and the team as a whole — back then. In fact, it was a bad day for everyone connected with the club.

“Thankfully, we have come on in leaps and bounds since then and hopefully we can get the right result this weekend. Things weren’t going my way at the time and that defeat, plus the red card, compounded it.

“It was a low point in my career — probably the lowest yet — but I bounced back. I went away, got my head down in training and worked as hard as I could. Hopefully I’ve come back a better player. We were all low and it shows how far we have come now. We have really turned it around.”

Manager Paul Jewell says he has been impressed with Smith’s attitude and approach: “He has shown a lot of character and that was illustrated in him travelling to New Zealand and back and being ready to play on the Saturday against Bristol City.

“I don’t think Tommy’s character has ever been in question. He’s only 21, 22 later this month, he’s got a long way to go but he’s shown determination and character.

“He went on loan to Colchester, it didn’t work out for him at Colchester. He had a chance to go to Crawley earlier this season but he wanted to stay here. I’ve no problem with Tommy’s character and he’s done well in the last few games.”

Smith & Co have lost just once in their last eight outings, form that is a far cry from the early-season slump that included the heavy defeat at London Road and then the miserable run of seven straight defeats between late October and early December.

The New Zealand defender added: “We are going into the Peterborough game after two away draws at Southampton and Hull, where we were behind each time.

“We were trailing 2-0 at Hull and I think if we had gone two goals down earlier in the season we might have crumbled a little bit. It shows the character that is back in the team to come back from that position and take a point.

“Getting good results has helped restore the self-belief. We now go into every game thinking we can win it.”

Photos: TWTD/Action Images

Photo: Action Images

bobble added 10:12 - Mar 16 thats because hes going to score..remember u heard it here 1st
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Mick_Mills_Tache added 10:21 - Mar 16 Got his head screwed on this lad. Smith bullet header anyone? 5-0 COYB!
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SpecialK79 added 10:26 - Mar 16 definitely think he is our best CB currently, needs to be tied down to a contract ASAP
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cornishnick added 10:27 - Mar 16 Apart from one very clumsy challenge, he didn't put a foot wrong against Peterborough!
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osborne1nil added 10:34 - Mar 16 Smith and Martin to score?
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tractorboy2434 added 11:02 - Mar 16 Jewell has been impressed with his form but not enough to offer a 21 year old central defender a new contract whilst keeping players like Sonko !
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Surco72 added 11:41 - Mar 16 Why has Sonko been offered a new contract ? Or do you want the club to buy Sonko out of his contract leaving no cover at centre back ? Think we should offer Smith a long contract has the potential to be a very good centre back for years to come
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DiamondGezzer added 12:52 - Mar 16 If he can continue to improve at the rate he has already, then he could serve ITFC for a lone time. One hundred percent commited to the Ipswich Town cause Love it !
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jas0999 added 14:32 - Mar 16 Smith was only on the pitch a minute. One of the worst showings by an ITFC team ever - considering the opposition. Tactics by the manager were woeful - but we basically paid the price for PJ's failure and inability to address the defence over the Summer. He still hasn't. Very very poor.
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Morgan added 15:11 - Mar 16 People seem to be obsessed with having someone to blame for everything, Clegg/Jewell/Clegg/ Jewell/ its pretty boring. Do you not think that PJ has really turned a corner in a lot of area, confident enough to hand out different punishments to Chops/Bullard, getting the best out of Martin again,Getting the best out of Hyam/Leadbetter by shuffling the pack when it gets stale and resurrecting Chopra. Don't get me wrong, I have sat through some pretty demoralising crap over the last 5 years but I think things are looking positive. We need a couple of centrebacks and to get the youth balance right but we are in a much better place.

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saffronblue added 15:59 - Mar 16 Jas, cheerful and positive as ever. (yawn). Smith has improved massively over the last few months and would love to see him get rewarded with a longer contract.
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slowerball added 17:31 - Mar 16 Not haunted by that thrashing, but he does have a recurring nightmare where he has to use his right foot...
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TractorTrog added 17:40 - Mar 16 come on Jas0999 lighten up a bit things really are getting a lot better I hope a 3-1 win against Peterbrough tomorrow will raise your spirits and admit that PJ is actually a decent bloke trying his best to get the team where we want them to be.....next season in the Prem!!!!!
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bluelady added 18:43 - Mar 16 To be fair its not his nightmare at least he showed a little Passion when he came on unlike some of the others such as leadboots and co. He was on for such a short period of time and the game was already lost by then so hardly his fault... Jas, thought you had turned over a knew leaf this week, some good balanced posts, shame you spoiled it.
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50yearsablue added 21:54 - Mar 16 Jas' posts were not balanced; they inevitably had a barb in them. Consistent drivel all season and still continuing when we are doing well. Jas, can't you understand you're boorish posts are not funny or balanced but very irritating?
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itfc94 added 12:04 - Mar 17 I didnt rate tommy for a while, but i think he has shown great determination and force to push himself into the squad and demonstrate talent in his ability Keep it up Tommo, right behind ya
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