We’re not physical, just competitive says goalscorer Jimmy Smith

Jimmy Smith scores for Stevenage (Image: Archant)

Jimmy Smith says Stevenage are not a ‘physical’ side, adding that they are simply competitive.

The midfielder scored the first goal in today’s 3-1 win over Tranmere Rovers when he latched on ball in the box before hitting a neat finish into the far corner of the net.

Boro followed this up with a Darius Charles poked goal and a quick-thinking free-kick routine finished off by John Mousinho, before Stevenage conceded a late own goal against a Rovers side that offered very little in terms of an attacking threat.

Afterwards Tranmere caretaker manager John McMahon told his club’s website that Boro were ‘direct and strong’, and that his side could not cope with Stevenage’s ‘physicality and how they went about their work’.

McMahon added: “They’re good at what they do. They play to their strengths, they’re a massive side, they’re strong and direct and they’re going to intimidate teams’.”

Asked afterwards about the comments Smith responded that his side were simply competitive, adding that Stevenage can mix things up in their approach to games in League 1.

“You say about physicality, but we’ve got some small players as well,” the midfielder said.

“You look at Luke Freeman, Roarie Deacon, and [Francois] Zoko’s small but he’s quick.

“It’s within us that we want to be strong, that we want to be competitive and we play like that as a team. We work hard for each other and we know that if there’s a battle we want to win it.

“We look to play and sometimes you mix your game up, sometimes you have to be physical, sometimes you need to get it down and play and we know we’ve got a variety like that within out team.”

Smith’s goal was his first for the club, and the midfielder said that before the game the players had spoken about wanting to win the game 3-0 only to be disappointed with conceding a late own goal.

“I was very pleased [with my goal],” said Smith. “I think the ball went in to Darius [Charles] and his touch went towards me and I just took it off him.

“Left foot and I put in to the bottom right so I was pleased to get my first goal for the club.

“I used to look at getting double figures when I was at [Leyton] Orient. Since I’ve been here I’ve been at right-back or have been on set plays but it’s down to me to try to get into the box and have long-range shots as well and I felt I did that today.

“I need to bring that into the game, but I feel that I bring other things into the game as well like my organisation, working hard for the team and assists as well.

“I do work on [getting more goals]. Being a midfielder you need to chip in with goals as well and hopefully I can do that.

“We’re a strong bunch of lads that work hard for each other and you saw that today and we had a lot of chances.

“I felt there could have been five or six goals. We were disappointed with the goal we conceded. We said before the game that we wanted 3-0 at least – we got that, but we were very disappointed for them to score.”