"Smith's a right stirrer" - Dom
DOMINIC MATTEO has revealed that Leeds players laughed off the verbal blast aimed at them by star striker Alan Smith last week.
But skipper Matteo, 29, insists that Smith’s stinging criticism has given them the kick up the backside they needed to win their relegation battle.
England hitman Smith, 23, shook up United’s dressing room by branding colleagues bottlers who did not show the fight necessary to hang on to their Premiership status.
Matteo and Co delivered the perfect response by grinding out a 3-2 win over fellow strugglers Leicester at Elland Road on Monday. That victory hoisted United level on points with third-bottom Foxes and instilled a fresh belief that Leeds can win their survival scrap.
Former Scottish international Matteo admitted: “Smithy said certain things in the Press last week and maybe he got the right reaction from the lads.
“I have to confess that when we read them we had a bit of a laugh and a joke and there was a fair bit of banter.
“The way I look at it as captain if something like that helps stir up the dressing room then that has got to be a good thing.
“With Alan it’s just a case that he desperately wants this club to be in the Premiership with all his heart. And, if by saying what he did gets the right reaction from the rest of the boys, then that’s fine.
“I honestly don’t think the lads are that bothered about what he said.
“No one has any grievances with him and we just let him get on with it.
“Sometimes things need to be said. Alan thought he needed to say them and fair play to him for coming out and doing it.
“He is a Leeds boy and he is very passionate about this club. He loves United to bits and he wants the club to do well all the time. His words have definitely had a positive outcome, so no one has any problems about him coming out with those opinions.”
Smith, who will be an £11million summer target for Newcastle if Leeds drop into the Nationwide League, notched up his eighth goal of the season with United’s winner against Leicester four minutes from time.
Matteo added: “I thought Alan was simply fantastic all through the 90 minutes.
“He popped up with the winner and that was absolutely crucial because a draw would not have been good enough for us.
“We needed to get all three points and everyone is delighted that we made it.”
Smith’s front-running partner Mark Viduka also got on the scoresheet with an overhead strike for United’s second.
That took his tally for the campaign to 10 goals — five in his last six outings. Matteo said: “Alan and Mark really are a handful together up front and they were absolutely superb against Leicester.
“Of course, it’s about a team performance — but you need your big players in these games and those two delivered for us.”
Viduka, 28, spoiled his display by being sent off in the last seconds for kicking the ball away. He had been yellow-carded
earlier by referee Mike Dean for a foul on City centre-back Matt Heath.
The Aussie will miss his side’s home showdown with relegation rivals Portsmouth on April 25 — but Smith looks as though he has put his disciplinary problems behind him.
He has now gone 14 league games without picking up a caution and seems to be winning the battle to clean up his act.
But Smith still needs to avoid picking up a yellow card against Blackburn on Saturday. Another caution would take him to 10 and plunge him into an automatic two-match ban.
Matteo said: “As long as he gets through the Blackburn game, Smithy will be okay. But he is a wholehearted player and being combative is the way he plays.
“He got through the Leicester game without any problems and still managed to put a lot of challenges in.
“So, touch wood, he can do the same again at Blackburn because we can’t afford to lose him as well as Mark.”
Smith’s improved behaviour has come as a result of a series of heart-to-hearts with Eddie Gray. United’s stand-in chief revealed: “I have had several chats with Alan and stressed upon him the importance of playing with discipline.
“He has worked hard at curbing that side of his game and I’m sure that helped him get a recall to the England squad for last week’s friendly in Sweden. Alan is just as aggressive but now that aggression is channelled into what he does well.”
Leeds probably need three more wins from their last seven matches to secure their place in the top flight.
Matteo said: “What with everything that’s gone on at the club it has been very hard for us this year.
“It’s been a learning curve for us and, if we come out of it the right side, it will stand us in good stead for next season.”
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