Goalkeeper Jordan Smith has said that everybody at Nottingham Forest is focused on improving our points return given largely impressive performances this season.
Going into the international break, Forest sit in 13th place with a return of 15 poitns from the season so far, but had we turned some of our six defeats into draws we could conceivably be higher up the table.
Speaking to the Nottingham Post, Smith believes it’s been a steady start so far but it could certainly have been better.
‘Yes, and that is what has been frustrating for us this season, especially in losing positions when we are trying to play and break teams down and it doesn`t always work. We maybe don`t look incisive enough or direct enough and I have heard people saying that it is passing for passing`s sake.’
He added.
‘That is something we definitely need to work on as the end product is so important in football and the game is won or lost in both boxes. It is working for a purpose to try and score goals at the end of the day.’
With manager Mark Warburton admitting that he looked at a number of goalkeeping options over the summer before bringing in Adam Federici, who quickly went down injured, Smith has seen an extended run in the side and despite all the speculation over the summer, he just focused on training and being ready for if he got the call.
The 22 year old explained.
‘I looked forward to coming back in during the summer after the back end of last season and finishing playing. I had a good pre-season and there was a lot of speculation about goalkeepers coming in, but it was easy for me to keep my head down and get on with it as no-one actually came through the door until Federici, but he got injured before he set foot in the building. That opened it up for me again and left it up to me to prove that I should be in the starting line-up every game and I have done that. I have loved it, there is nothing better than playing games and that is why you do it.’
With Warburton wanting a passing style at the club, Smith went on to say.
‘It is something that is massive and that is something the gaffer highlighted from day one. He changed the style of play instantly as that is what he demands. I enjoy it. I find it a challenge at times but it is something that we need to work on and improve upon.’
Adding.
‘It is allright having that core of players together but doing it is another story. We have proved we can do it but in smaller parts than we would like. Now it is important to be more consistent and prove we can do it on a regular basis. Every team we face poses a different kind of challenge in terms of how they set up and it is up to us on the pitch to combat it.’
