| view Smith's match-by-match record |
| Michael SMITH | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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A tall striker signed in January of 2014 from Charlton, Smith was a direct replacement - in position if not playing style - for Nicky Ajose, who was recalled from his loan by Peterborough United. Smith got off to a storming start in red and white, picking up two goals from inside the box on his debut against Shrewsbury and a third in two games with a header - the equaliser away at Walsall. In total, he notched eight over the second half of the season as the Robins finished just outside the League One playoffs. Despite a good scoring record, not everyone was convinced by Smith, his gangly playing style and questionable first touch providing a counter point to his hard work and clear eye for goal, leading to him being a somewhat polarising figure in the minds of the fans. Mark Cooper was full of praise though, and other clubs were already keen - Town turned down two bids from Coventry over the summer. His second season was the playoff final run of 2014/15, spearheading Mark Cooper’s young side and proving a key player with 47 appearances and picking up 18 goals, just behind Andy Williams’ 21 in the goalscoring charts. His goals had a habit of coming in bursts, with almost half coming across five braces, including four goals in the first two games of the season and, memorably, Town’s third and fourth in the 5-5 playoff second leg against Sheffield United. Smith started at Wembley alongside Jonathan Obika, but was well marshalled by Preston’s experienced defence as Town slipped to a conclusive 4-0 defeat. In 2015/16, Smith’s Town career came to a surprisingly swift end. With interest from Barnsley and Smith himself honest enough to admit the five-hour drive from his home near Newcastle to Swindon wasn’t ideal, he started four of Town’s first six games of the new season before joining Barnsley on loan on transfer deadline day, with the expectation of the move becoming permanent in January. 13 appearances for the Oakwell side without a goal later, he was back at Town for another four games - three unused on the bench and a 13 minute cameo against Barnsley - before joining distinctly non-northern Portsmouth on a more successful loan which was made permanent at the end of the season. PLAYING RECORD:
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date of birth
usual positions centre forward youth career senior career website links |
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