Smith Out to Keep Place in Team
Friday, 20th Jan 2012 11:29

Town central defender Tommy Smith has vowed to make it difficult for boss Paul Jewell to axe him from the starting line-up.

Smith, who has started the last two games at Birmingham and at home to Blackpool, is set to continue alongside Ibrahima Sonko at Leeds on Saturday.

He re-emerged in the FA Cup third round defeat at Hull earlier this month, coming off the bench to replace the injured Damien Delaney — just as he had in the 3-0 win at Bristol City on the opening day of the season.

After the Ashton Gate success Smith kept his place, featuring in a hat-trick of home defeats — to Northampton in the Carling Cup and to both Hull and Southampton in the league — before being left out for the trip to Peterborough.

He was a half-time substitute for Josh Carson that day but within two minutes of the restart he conceded a penalty and was red-carded en route to Town crashing to a 7-1 defeat.

Smith, still 21 despite over 50 first team appearances and all three group games for New Zealand in their World Cup campaign in South Africa two years ago, said: “I must try to make it harder for the manager to drop me than it was earlier in the season.

“I don’t really know why I wasn’t performing at the start. It had gone well in pre-season and I can’t put my finger on it. I was playing on the right of the defence, which I hadn’t done before, but I’m not going to blame that because I felt comfortable enough there.

“All of a sudden we started conceding goals and everybody’s confidence dropped, including mine. The manager was right to drop me but I got my head down, worked hard in training and I think I’ve come back a better player.”

Smith’s return has coincided with an upturn in performances, although Town had only one point to show for their much-improved displays against Birmingham and Blackpool, two sides who look to be handily placed for a promotion challenge via the play-offs.

He added: “I think we could have had all three points at Birmingham had more decisions gone our way. It has been disappointing but there have been positive signs.

“It would be more frustrating if we weren’t performing but I think the performances are there and we just have to get over the mental barrier of conceding late goals.

“It’s not down to tiredness because we have a fit group of lads. It’s not just this season — we’ve been doing it for a few years now — but once we get that first win to get going again I think we will be flying.”

Photo: Action Images

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pazelle added 11:37 - Jan 20 Glad to see Tommy Smith back in the team!
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Rossm added 11:37 - Jan 20 Good Lad Tommy, this is what we need more of, i think this is why it is important to have young hungry players in the team. good attitude and i will be backing him for first goal scorer if he is to start as he should tomorrow.
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Surco72 added 11:43 - Jan 20 Its his time to really stand up and be counted, could form a good partnership alongside Sonko if he can cut out his laspses in concentration and has some defensive help from his full backs . Good luck Tommy
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chalkandcheese added 11:49 - Jan 20 to be fair he hasnt got much competition at present has he.....
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scooterblue added 11:50 - Jan 20

Keep going Tommy. Personally i find it odd that fan's post on twtd that this player should never play for us. I'd thought that once they cross the line in a blue shirt they should have our support until they leave because if a "boo boy" is playing well they should be cheered. I alway's remember the anti Scowcroft faction in the north stand in the late 90's and they were a disgrace to town.

bobble added 11:59 - Jan 20 sure plays a mean football
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fourth added 12:07 - Jan 20 To come back after Colchester and the sending off is VERY GOOD
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village_blue added 12:27 - Jan 20 Thought that Tommy looked the better of the 2 centre half's last week against Blackpool.
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Warkys_Tash added 12:35 - Jan 20 No chance of you being replaced for the next two games Tommy, as Pj has no new signings!
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Warkys_Tash added 12:39 - Jan 20 And you wre far better than Sonko last week..good attitude too lad, should be commended for that.
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irishtim added 12:44 - Jan 20 I like his attitude. Well done & i hope you go on & prove to us what a good player you are. Still very young lets hope he has a very succesfull career with itfc.
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JayITFC added 12:50 - Jan 20 Despite being at fault for both Blackpool goals he got on the score sheet and looked like he wanted it! Given a full season at CB I have no doubts he'd improve in leaps and bounds and could be our rock at the back for a decade. Future ITFC captain?
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Marcus added 12:53 - Jan 20

Smith did a good job when part of a back three, the 4-4-2 formation doesn't suit him quite as well and he had to learn that he has to cover more of the field. Give him time, he's still really young, we need to stick with players and not think about offloading potential after a couple of bad games. His poor performance at Colchester *could* be because he didn't want to be there.

arc added 13:09 - Jan 20 Let's see if the coaching staff can build his confidence this time. The quality is there.
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rogie_dog added 13:13 - Jan 20 Keep it going Tommy.
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depressed added 14:25 - Jan 20 Good luck for tomorrow Tommy. Iv'e far more confidence in you than Sonko.
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Karlosfandangal added 14:49 - Jan 20

Scooterblue

Agree with the Scowcroft thing,and then people were not happy when he left, On the other hand they have to have someone to moan about.

Tommy Miller springs to mind 250 appearances and 40 odd goals, Richard Wright is not rated at the club, in his 2nd spell here TWTD readers gave him 13 MOTM in 61 games, Yet played with Arsenal,Everton and West Ham in prem over 350 games for Ipswich and played for England.

Think its Grants turn now.

Think Tommy Smith could be a good player for us and the start of last season with his 3 goals and World cup under his belt I thought could be massive for us.

Still have hope for the lad and would prefer him to St Ledger