Barnsley manager Daniel Stendel was full of praise for Jordan Smith after the Nottingham Forest impressed on his debut. The goalkeeper joined Barnsley on an emergency loan after the Tykes temporarily lost their first and second-choice shot-stoppers (Adam Davies, Jack Walton) and was immediately thrust into the starting lineup for Saturday’s meeting with Accrington Stanley.
Smith kept a clean sheet as his loan side picked up all three points to go third in League One. His manager was impressed with his performance under difficult circumstances, training for just one day before playing a full 90 minutes on Saturday, and revealed to BBC Radio Sheffield (h/t Nottingham Live) that the players were also lauding Smith.
He said: “We talked about this in the dressing room after the game and everyone gave him applause for a very good performance in a situation that was not easy. He trained on Friday for the first time with us and (on Saturday) had a clean sheet. It’s the best result for him and for us and we’re very happy that he could play.”
Smith wasn’t getting game time at Forest due to stiff competition from the likes of Costel Pantilimon, Luke Steele and Stephen Henderson, so his loan move to Barnsley will suit all parties. The 23-year-old will get regular playing time with the Tykes and Barnsley’s goalkeeping crisis is solved. Smith may not stay long at Barnsley, however, as his loan move was only predicated on them losing Davies and Walton.
His debut showing took his new manager and teammates by surprise and may have caught the attention of Aitor Karanka.
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