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.”

Story syndicated from TWTD.co.uk

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