Smith previews final game of the season

Defender Will Smith spoke to Iron Player as he previewed United’s final game of the season away at Dorking Wanderers this Saturday (5.30pm kick-off).

The 24-year-old Harrogate loanee began by saying: “We have to go down there and put a performance in, like we should be doing every single week to be honest.

“For all those fans who are travelling down there, we need to put a performance on and get a win for them to give them something to cheer about going into next season.

“I know it’s disappointing we’ve gone down, very disappointing, but we need to end it on a high for next year to start on a positive note and a clean slate."

“I’ve loved it here,” he began, when queried on how Smith has found his loan with the Iron since returned from a long-term injury.

“I’m thankful to the gaffer for bringing me in, it’s been a long time since I’ve played since I was injured so I’m grateful for being able to come in and enjoy it.

“It’s just a shame with the way it’s gone, not being able to stay up, but I want to thank everybody as it’s been really good, and I’ve enjoyed my time.

“It’s difficult to take because the ultimate goal when I came in was ‘we want stay up’, and to not do that is disappointing but we have to go again and finish the season on a high like we’ve said as that’s the only way to go about it.

Touching on Saturday’s opposition, who have secured their National League status for the first time, Smith said: “They’re doing well but the focus is on us.

“We have to go there and put a performance on to win, there’s no two ways about it, a draw’s not good enough and we can’t lose as that’s not on.

“You should want to play for the shirt every week, you should want to win every week, that’s why you play football.

“Nobody wants to lose, especially in the manner we’ve lost sometimes which hasn’t been good enough, but on Saturday we have to win to give the fans something to shout about.”

Expanding on the fan base, Smith said: “The supporters have been really good since I came in, especially the first few home games.

“It was loud; they were getting behind the players, during the couple of wins we got here, and it was really good. It’s just a shame as players that we’ve not been able to continue that.

“We had to put a run together and we didn’t, the couple of wins we did get were good wins, but we had to follow it by beating the teams around us and we didn’t.

Hear more ahead of Dorking from Chris Plummer and Will Smith on Iron Player.