Smith: We'll Need to Keep Our Cool
Friday, 8th May 2015 11:50

Defender Tommy Smith believes Town must guard against becoming “derby hotheads” in tomorrow’s play-off clash against Norwich.

Smith said it is possible to get too wound up by the occasion, warning: “I think we’ve seen it before in derby games — not just this one — where there are hotheads and it impacts on their performance in a negative way.

“It’s about channelling all that excitement and anxiousness, really, the right way so that it has a positive impact on your performance.

“These are the games you want to play in, the massive games against your local rivals and I don’t think they come any bigger than this one.

“At the end of the day you’ve got to beat whoever is put in front of you and we fancy our chances against anyone that we come up against over two legs.

“The fact it’s Norwich doesn’t change how we approach the game. We’ve got our game plan and we’ll stick to it. We’ve tried to keep things the same all week preparation-wise and that’s what has got us success this season so there’s no point in changing that.”

Asked what was the least Town wanted to take from the game, he responded: “Well, obviously, we want to win the game by as many goals as we can, which is what we go into every game wanting to do. Any sort of advantage we take there, we fancy ourselves to hold on to.

“I think it’s obvious what it means but there will be words mentioned. I’ll make sure everyone knows the importance of it for the area, the club and the town itself. We need to beat Norwich first but the prize at the end of it is huge and we might never get another opportunity to do it.

“To beat our local rivals on the way to doing it would be magnificent and we’ve got every confidence in our ability to get the job done. It seems to have been written in the stars that we would meet Norwich in the play-offs. Both games will be great occasions and hopefully we can take an advantage into the second leg.”

Smith could find a familiar face in opposition since Norwich defender Ryan Bennett, also 25, attended the Town academy at the same time. He recalled: “When I first came over from New Zealand on trial he was still in my age group but he went to Grimsby for his scholarship, whereas I was kept on.

“He’s the only player I know in the Norwich team. I’m not close friends with him but I’ll have a chat with him if I see him — but for the two games he’s an enemy.”

Photo: Action Images

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battyblue added 15:14 - May 8 Not sure i believe some of that for starters i don't think town go out to win every game they go for the point and anything else is a bonus,,i really hope this doesn't happen tomorrow cant do anything about it Mick will pick the team he wants to play and the way he wants to do it ,,just hope this time he gets it right for a change.
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Europablue added 16:16 - May 8 Sure we are playing a derby, but much more importantly it is the playoff semi-final. We seemed to be really nervous in the two derbies this year. I hope we are less nervous, or a least no more nervy than Norwich.
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Keaneish added 06:58 - May 9

I think too cautious rather than nervous EuropaBlue, caution that has made us come unstuck. We need to go for it today. No point eking out a tight result here to take something to Carrow Road to defend. Need to out them to the sword today to have any hope of making Wembley in my opinion. Anything less than a 2 goal cushion and i i fear the game is up...but who knows? It is football after all!