Boro Player caught up with Gary Smith at the Shephalbury Training Ground on Thursday with preparations for the trip to Preston North End this weekend well underway.
After six straight defeats Boro secured a brilliant victory over Brentford on Tuesday evening and the mood in the camp is high. Looking back on that game Smith told us, “After a pretty difficult run, you look at it and you are concerned where it is going to end. There was never any doubt in my mind what the players were capable of and I don’t think the players had lost too much doubt in what they were capable of achieving. You certainly need a good performance to breath some life back into what the group is about and Tuesday night was a terrific performance and one that we can draw on for many reasons to push us on.”
This Saturday’s game at Deepdale is sure to be a thrilling affair, and opposition boss Simon Grayson is making his first appearance at North End’s ground since taking over as manager.
On the test that his side faces, Smith said, “They’ve got a very strong group up there, potentially there is so much to be achieved in that group. They’re well supported, have a great history and some talented players so I would suspect that Simon Grayson would take right now survival and then having a good off-season and pre-season to push on again.
“They do have a hell of a lot of potential and the group that they have there is more than capable of achieving much more than just survival. I think they’re one of those sides that you take lightly at their peril, they’re a very powerful group and they put us to the sword down here earlier on in the season. 4-1 at home was a tough one to take so we know full well what we’re running into when we play them at the weekend and, of course, on the back of a good result it would be nice to see those positives and that good form continue.”
To see the full, extended interview now simply login to your Boro Player account.