Smith scored a goal in each half – either side of strikes from David McGoldrick and Aaron McLean – to boost the Tractor Boys chances of avoiding relegation with a 4-0 win over Middlesbrough, while also helping them keep a clean sheet.
“It’s a nice feeling when you get yourself on the score sheet but it’s even better when the team gets the three points as well,” Smith says.
“I thought we performed superbly throughout and it was a solid all-around performance. As a defender I pride myself on keeping clean sheets, so to have done that and scored a couple of goals to help us win the game sums up a pretty perfect day for me.”
Smith opened the scoring in the 38th minute after guiding a corner inside the near post. He scored his second after rising high in the box to head home a cross.
The defender says he has been working on set pieces in training so it was nice to have that hard work pay off.
“It’s worked for me today and the ball has found me in the right areas and I’ve managed to score two goals, which I’m obviously delighted with,” Smith says.
“The main thing was getting the three points though and I think our performance definitely deserved the win.”
Ipswich Town assistant manager Terry Connor says he is delighted to see Smith go from being a danger at set pieces to delivering.
“We have spoken to Tommy about his defensive side and improving aspects of his play and he has taken that on board,” Connor says.
“We have also talked about the other end of the pitch. He had chipped in one or two goals before the weekend and looked a threat. It was great to see him against Middlesbrough turning that threat into goals.”
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