Matt Smith outlines stance on Leeds reunion ahead of Salford City cup clash
Salford City striker Matt Smith is at the stage of his career where making a point against former clubs is no longer at the top of his agenda - which is just as well when it comes to facing Leeds.
Smith, 34, will be spearheading a Salford side who are bidding to cause a major upset when they host relegated Leeds in the second round of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night at the Peninsula.
The veteran striker took the scenic route into the professional game after excelling in the FA Cup with Oldham and counts Leeds amongst his many former clubs. But a nightmare evening in front of goal against the Whites during his stint at Fulham left Smith feeling as though he was "jinxed" against his old team.
Speaking exclusively to Mirror Football , Smith says: "I remember playing them at Craven Cottage and we absolutely battered them in the first half and then they scored right on half-time. It was a bit of a robbery to be fair, but nothing was going for me in front of goal; I had chance after chance and I couldn't put anything away. It was a bit of a jinx coming up against them!
"Ultimately, you always want to do well [against old clubs]. Not to particularly rub it in anyone's face - I'm 34-years-old - but it's more personal pride. That comes into it. It didn't really work out for me on that night, though.
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"I always look back on my time at Leeds fondly. I was probably there during one of the club's most unstable periods in recent history, so it felt like I was there a lot longer than the full season that it was because so much was happening. I left in sort of unusual circumstances. There's a lot more stories than just a season's worth!"
The stature of domestic cups in England may have plummeted in recent years, but the magic of these cherished competitions has not waned for Smith, whose heroics in the FA Cup propelled him into the professional ranks via a dream transfer to Leeds in 2013.
He added: "Cup games are big things in English football. For me, they carry huge importance: the FA Cup shaped my life, let alone my career, so I'll always have that respect for cup competitions. I've never gone particularly far in the League Cup but I'll always have immense respect for the cups and what they can do for careers - particularly for lads in the lower leagues.
Smith joined Salford from Millwall back in January 2022 (Ryan Browne/REX/Shutterstock)"It does sadden me when teams make wholesale changes. I understand that clubs have heavy schedules and it's an opportunity for fringe players to showcase themselves, but I would like to see teams treat these games with the same respect I have for them."
Regardless of the team Daniel Farke selects on Tuesday night, Leeds will be tasked with overcoming their hungry hosts at a packed Peninsula Stadium under the lights.
Smith has been on both sides of the sword when it comes to cup upsets - and while location can be a major accommodating factor in overcoming the odds, the veteran is under no illusions about the task which lies ahead.
"I've been involved in cup upsets on both sides: I remember Leeds losing to Rochdale in the FA Cup and then being on the other side of things when I was at Oldham and we beat a really strong Liverpool side. I think it boils down to mindset on the night. We've got to hope Leeds have an off day and we're at our best.
"They're an extremely strong squad still regardless of relegation. They've got great players and great depth."
While Smith and co have their sights set on claiming a major scalp, the ultimate goal for Salford this season remains promotion. The Ammies are still stinging from last season's heartbreaking defeat in the play-offs against Stockport County, but there is a determination within the squad to make amends in style this year.
Smith, now an elder statesman within the group, admits that the senior players in the dressing room have done what they could to exorcise the demons of the 2022/23 campaign.
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Despite falling to a 2-1 reverse at Accrington Stanley on Saturday, Neil Wood's side have made a decent start to the new season and sit just outside the play-off places.
Smith continues: "There's an element of importance for all the senior lads - and there's a few of us - to carry the younger ones mentally. It was important for us to sort of shake off any sort of hangover from last season and I think we've done that.
Smith spent a year at Leeds United after starring in Oldham's stunning FA Cup run back in 2013 (Gareth Copley/Getty)"We're into the swing of things now. There's no sense of feeling sorry for ourselves; the group wouldn't allow it. There's a good set of lads and we're desperate to give a good account of ourselves every single week. Let's see where that takes us.
"We fell slightly short last year in the play-offs, but we want to use that as fuel to go one better this year. Everyone is desperate for that to happen. I think we've kept the nucleus of the squad and added well so hopefully we're better equipped to give it a go this season."
League Two is, arguably, the most intriguing division in the entire EFL this year. The Class of 92 have overseen a healthy investment during their time at the helm of Salford, but other clubs - including Wrexham and Gillingham - have flexed their financial muscles to build squads capable of winning promotion.
The involvement of Gary Neville and co has, in the past, automatically made Salford a target for opposing teams and also seen the club attract criticism from rival fans.
For Smith, though, Salford's high-profile hierarchy have already proven themselves to be capable custodians of a club which was languishing in the eighth tier of English football when they arrived.
Salford City are owned by the Class of 92 (Paul Greenwood/CameraSport)"I think any preconceptions people may have of Salford would be dismissed as soon as they walk into the building. All I've seen is hard-working, passionate people [here]. It's not a status game or anything, they're a group of guys that want to move a football club in the right direction and are going about it in the right way, making a positive impact in the local community.
"It's not a case of chucking a load of resources at something and hoping it sticks, there's a lot more to back-to-back promotions and hard work that goes on behind the scenes. The movement the club's made over many years is remarkable.
"The next goal is to get to League One, which for whatever reason is maybe taking a little bit longer than we'd probably have hoped, but that's the nature of football. If you look at the league now, you've got Wrexham, Notts County...even Gillingham and Stockport, there's a lot of clubs with big resources trying to get out of the division, so it's difficult.
"Salford is geared around giving the community the best club it can. We're in the middle of Man United territory and it's a hotbed of football here so it's always going to be difficult, but hopefully we can continue giving the community a club that they can be proud of."
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