Huddersfield Town coach and Birmingham City stopper key in Smithies’ development

Mar 13 2010 by Dougie Thomson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Alex Smithies

“Yet Joe deals with it very well, and even though he’s young, he makes his presence felt both verbally and physically.”

That’s just what Smithies aims to do today, when Town try to bounce back after successive defeats at Southampton and Gillingham.

“We’re a close-knit group of players, and we’re all so disappointed by how the last two games have gone,” said Smithies.

“But what a great game to bounce back in, the top of the league coming to our ground, where we are still unbeaten in the league this season.

“If we can take three points off them it will be a terrific start to our last push towards promotion, and we all believe we can do it.

“We played some really good stuff and dominated them in the first half down at their place, and hopefully we have learned from the way we tailed away in the second half and ended up losing 3-0.

“No-one is under any illusions about the task ahead, because they’re a good side with some very good players.

“Grant Holt has been on fire for them this season, Chris Martin has also been scoring regularly, and Wes Hoolahan is always a dangerous opponent.

“But I know our fans will get behind us the way they did against Leeds, and it’s the kind of big match you want to be involved in every week.”