PAUL Smith had no hesitation in swapping a promotion push with Nottingham Forest for a relegation battle with Middlesbrough as he looks to prove he is good enough to be a first choice goalkeeper.
Smith was signed on loan by Boro manager Tony Mowbray on the eve of their vital 2-1 win over Derby County on Tuesday night having warmed the bench for the majority of the season at Forest.
At 31, still well within the boundaries of a goalkeeper’s prime, Smith is not content to just pick up his wages every week at the City Ground and hopes to use his three-month stay on Teesside to put himself in the shop window. Forest have mounted a charge for promotion since the turn of the year, but that was not enough to keep him happy.
He said: “From my point of view, to be part of a Forest side looking for promotion is definitely what I hope for. They’re a great bunch of lads and a good young team.
“I hope they do it and I’m looking forward to them doing really well. But for me, it’s really frustrating to sit there and watch the lads do well, but not be playing and feeling a part of it. I just want to be doing my bit on the pitch and influencing things that way. When you look at the goalkeepers playing in the Premier League at the moment, a lot of them are well into their 30s. You’ve got Edwin van der Sar, Brad Friedel and Mark Schwarzer, and David James is still playing to a good age in the Championship.
“It just shows that goalkeepers are continuing on much later in their career. I don’t really think 30 or 31 is very old for a keeper any more.”
Smith’s arrival brought Boro victory in his first game and the former Brentford man feels there were enough encouraging signs in that win over Derby to suggest his new club will stay clear of the drop zone.
He said: “I hope I can make a difference here. I’ve got enough experience, and I’ve played plenty of games to know what’s needed. It was a good chance for me to come and get some games and pass on my experience to the boys.
“The back four that played in front of me the other day played very well. They limited the amount of shots I had to save, which was good. Any chances they had to put their bodies on the line and get clearances away, they took. I was really pleased with them and happy to play behind them.”
Mowbray’s men took all three points in midweek thanks to late winner from Moroccan midfielder Merouane Zemmama, but will not start against Portsmouth today.
Mowbray explained: “Probably for the remainder of this season Merouane is more likely to be an impact player rather than a regular starter. Sometimes it’s difficult for a manager to pick too many players of his type.”
The Boro boss, meanwhile, faces the task of having to more than half Middlesbrough’s wage bill this summer as a result of the club’s failure to regain Premier League status.
It is understood players’ salaries account for around £20million a year and that Boro are aiming to slash that to closer to £6million next season.
The reduction is needed because they based their financial model on winning a return to the top flight and the riches it brings within two years, and with parachute payments due to be reduced, their turnover will decrease significantly.
He said: “It’s important to try to help manage the situation. Ultimately, my job is to put a squad together that can be competitive and win football matches, and you need to know what resources you have got to work with to do that.
“We need to cut down the bush, trim it back, before we can start growing it again.”
Portsmouth (13) v Middlesbrough (20)
PORTSMOUTH (from): Ashdown, Flahavan; Halford, Rocha, Mokoena, Hreidarsson, Dickinson, de Laet, Ward, Kanu, Mullins, Cotterill, Hogg, Kitson, Nugent, Kilbey.
MIDDLESBROUGH (from): Smith, Ripley; McMahon, Hines, R Williams, McManus, Haas, A Taylor, Grounds, Bennett, Robson, Bailey, Tavares, Smallwood, McDonald, Zemmama, Lita, Emnes, Kink,
Last season: No corresponding fixture.
Last five League games: Portsmouth W W W W L; Middlesbrough W L D L W.
Top scorers (all competitions): David Nugent (Portsmouth) 11; Leroy Lita (Middlesbrough) 10.
Match odds: H 21-20; A 13-5; D 23-10.
Referee: Phil Crossley (Kent).
