Central defender Tommy Smith says the Blues would have taken 10 points from their first five games at the start of the season, despite being disappointed to go into the international break on the back of the season’s first defeat.

Even though the Seagulls - who are now top with Town down to third - ultimately went on to win 3-2, Smith was pleased that he and his team-mates came from two goals down to level at 2-2.

“It shows we've got great character to come back again - it's the third or fourth time this season we've come from behind,” he said. “It shows we've got the never-say-die attitude you need in this league.

“You're going to go behind in matches and it's how you react to that. You can't win every game.

“There's ups and downs in the Championship. I think if you'd have given us 10 points after the first five games we'd have taken that at the beginning of the season.

He added: “If you're a neutral watching that game you'd be really excited, obviously. We don't really like games like that - we prefer to be a lot more solid. It’s disappointing to go into the international break with a defeat.

“We had to make a couple of changes at half-time which worked getting us back to 2-2 and it was a real sucker punch they scored so quickly after that.”

Smith, who isn’t involved with New Zealand in the international break, says the Blues will “rest and regroup” during the two-week hiatus after a busy August.

Did he feel the Blues missed the injured Christophe Berra? Christophe is a very good player but I think we've got enough strength in depth to cope with that absence.”

The 25-year-old says the squad only met new signing Piotr Malarczyk, who made his debut as a half-time sub, on the day of the match: “We met him for the first time [on Saturday]. For him to come straight in shows the strength he's got.

"It must have been tough - new country, new league, and I thought he did well.

“We introduced ourselves before the game and had a little chat and at half-time we managed to have a chat to say what to expect from Brighton. I think he acquitted himself really well for his first appearance.

“He's not fluent in English but he's got the basics. I'm sure he'll be working really hard on that and adapting to life in a new country.

Does Smith speak any Polish? “Zero! Bart was helping him a lot. It's nice to have a compatriot alongside you when you're in a new country.”

The Academy product says he knows nothing of any further additions to the squad before the transfer window closes at 6pm on Tuesday.

“You'd have to ask the gaffer - we know as soon as the public do. There's work going on but until that's set in stone we don't know,” he said.

“His recruitment policy has been second to none and the scouting system behind it. They don't just scout players for their playing ability, they scout their characters as well.

“They find out about how they are as people and if they'd fit in with the squad that we've got. The additions we've made this season show just how good he is in the transfer market.

“They do their research and know they're going to be good characters. The majority of people he's brought in know someone in the squad already so it helps them to settle in.”

Photo: Action Images

raycrawfordswig added 07:12 - Aug 31 Thing is we go behind in nearly every match.Still need a defence.
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parhamblue added 07:18 - Aug 31 Too many compromised selections on Saturday due to several injuries, including to key players. Does sound like Bru is ready to come back, and so may be Parr but he hasn't played at all. In the meantime, Didz picks up an injury! It would be a miracle if we keep up the promotion challenge without a huge reduction of the sick list.
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MyBlueHeaven added 07:51 - Aug 31 We really had no other options for centre half than to play someone who'd not met the team before?!
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Garv added 08:16 - Aug 31 Feel a bit for Yorwerth.
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BrettenhamBlue added 08:31 - Aug 31 Feel a lot for Yorwerth. Given the situation he deserved to play against Brighton. Mal-Man did really well but he'd only just met the team and couldn't really communicate. Really good debut, but certainly leaves Yorwerth firmly on the sidelines. Bru will make a huge difference if he's back.
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Mark added 09:45 - Aug 31 There was an argument for playing Yorwerth, but I suppose Mick thought the central partnership of Smith and Chambers had worked well in the past, Chambers like to be in the centre, and perhaps Emmanuel's pace would be useful against Lua Lua. In hindsight... Douglas and Skuse have been excellent in the centre up to now, and two holding midfielders made sense when playing two wingers. Unfortunately both had an off day.

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Daleyitfc added 10:14 - Aug 31 "Christophe is a very good player but I think we've got enough strength in depth to cope with that absence.” Shows how much he knows, unless Smith thinks conceding 3 soft goals is a reasonable thing to do.
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bluelodgeblue added 10:16 - Aug 31 So much for Fortress Portman road.................... given up very easily in my view!
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VenustoHolland added 11:49 - Aug 31 The point of this article was that we would have taken 10 points from 5 games - which I think we would all agree on. We are 3rd in the league.. Cheer up.
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topguy added 11:57 - Aug 31 It had to come, did you lot watch the game, or just the comments and highlights, Lua-Lua was pulling the strings for everything, Emanuel got skinned to easy for 1st goal, but that showed inexperience which is why hes being eased in, in hindsight maybe the pitor would have started but as he only arrived the day before, can see why he didn't, but was solid second half, and when didsy played second half, the game turned they could not cope with him, and the whole tempo of the team inceased, so rather than coming out with negative things to say, better not say nothing, it was two form side in the end slugging it out, in the end could have gone either way. by reading we will have bru and bish bk so like tommy said at the start of august, id have took 10 pts from 5 games. and name me how many teams came bk from 2-0 down that itself shows a good side.

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RRanger added 12:08 - Aug 31 If we average 10 points for every 5 matches through the season we will quite likely win the league and will certainly get automatic promotion. Thats why Tommy Smith says the team would have taken 10 from 5 before the season started.
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alfromcol added 12:08 - Aug 31 We didn't come back from 2-0 down, we lost 3-2!!! Ball over the top is catching us out. Teams have sussed out our "high up the pitch" game and have found the answer. Work to be done here. However, the absence of Berra was a major problem.
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Len_Brennan added 12:13 - Aug 31 We have a good squad and have made a very decent start to the season, both pointswise & performancewise, especially considering the change in personnel & style. When we have Bru, Bishop, Murphy, McGoldrick, Hyam & Parr back free from injury, Berra back from suspension, Bart fit to play after his recent bereavement and Malarczyk, Knudsen & Oar fully up to speed with English Championship football, we will be a very strong unit. There are definitely questions to be answered as to what our best defensive unit (back 5 incl. goalkeeper) should be, given the players we have. Pretty much everybody would agree that Berra has to play left-side of the centre-half pairing and most people would play Knudsen at left back, despite finding it tough going at times on Saturday, but after that we could spend the rest of today arguing as to who should play in goal, right back & right-sided centre half. I trust Mick to get it right, and hopefully he'll get to work on that over the break. I also have sympathy for Yorwerth, but I'm assuming that Mick recruited him on the basis that he is one for the future, who will only play in the league when needed, due to injury/suspension, in a similar manner to Kenlock & Emmanuel. The real "first team" battle to be between Chambers, Smith, Parr & Malarczyzk. All things being even, Bart should start ahead of Gerken.

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VenustoHolland added 12:28 - Aug 31 I don't think teams have 'sussed us out'. We've lost 1 in 7.
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blueherts added 12:47 - Aug 31 Topguy , I agree with most on here that we have a great squad , far better than for years and a real chance this year , but Brentford came back from 2-0 down against us and we have to stop letting balls drop over our heads too easily - that also includes having a commanding keeper to manage it - Berra back will sort it out
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topguy added 13:04 - Aug 31 The reason we pushed high up the field was because we had to get 2 goals back and we did, but before we could adjust to playing a more conservative style, they played a quick ball wide and pumped a ball that got deflected passed the keeper. lucky for them unlucky for us, that's the game, but over all was a good comeback and earned as we at the time was the better team. 1st was frailties yes, which with pitor up to speed, and berra and parr back will solve the issue, but all in all 1 defeat in 7 is not a weak team make, or consider teams have sussed us out, the game would in the beginning be decided if we kept lua-lua quiet and we never that was the issue, brighton are 1 dimentional if he plays badly they do, as the cup games show.

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runningout added 13:35 - Aug 31 be the best, then get better I say.... if you have any less conviction, your wasting our once great clubs time....
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TimmyH added 14:40 - Aug 31 Yes 10 points from the opening 5 games isn't bad - just like to see the performances become a bit better (which we haven't played particularly well in the last 2 games). Worry for me at the moment ARE the amount of injuries being picked up so early in the season, good job the squad is better as our physio is certainly being kept busy.
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paulthebluealien added 15:17 - Aug 31 If you're not content with 10 points out of 15 you've lost the plot, frankly. I was frustrated as anybody about the first half display but that's the way it goes. As for performances, if you're expecting us to play incredible week in week out you've also gone completely mad. The most important thing is we keep up with those teams at the top (Hull probably, Brighton at the moment etc.) If we carry on a 2 point per game ratio we'll be absolutely fine. We're 3rd in the league. Lighten up.

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Dissboyitfc added 16:04 - Aug 31 Yes 10 points from 5 gives is excellent, no one would disagree. However i do disagree with the oh well so we lost attitude, its the same as dropping points at brentford and saying we would have taken a point b4 the game, yes we would but it was 2 points dropped. Thats the difference between being a winner and accepting coming 2nd. Its small margins.
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ArnieM added 18:56 - Aug 31 Ole ole Ole ole We're Tractor Boys Lets make some noise Ole ole Ole ole Thats all. COYB'S
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blueboy1981 added 20:08 - Aug 31 ...... yes, Tommy - we would have taken 10 points from 5 games at the onset by choice - but this game is all about 'pushing on' and 'not resting on the Laurels'. These are the small margins that Dissboyitfc make reference to, and make all the difference between winners, nearly men, and losers.
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itfc1981 added 23:11 - Aug 31 No Berra. No Party
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BrettenhamBlue added 00:35 - Sep 1 Saw that poor old Bajner is without a club again having been released by Notts County. Apparently started well for then the first couple of games but was then dreadful from that point forward.
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WeWereZombies added 11:11 - Sep 1 Always difficult to know if these interviews are the players speaking freely or whether they have been coached into what they say but Tommy does seem wise beyond his years, I think the best is yet to come from him.
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