Smith downplays the magnitude of tomorrow's game. Quick to point that
#NUFC have a new manager and a partisan crowd. 'It's about us and managing to quieten down the fans'
'I've been pleasantly surprised at the squad that is available for us. We are doing some 11v11 work and having to leave players out for that.
Fitness wise, Smith is happy with the physical stats his
#NCFC squad are displaying at the moment. Norwich more than a match for anyone on that front. Saturday was as good as any in that regard, he says.
Smith keen to deflect praise from himself and onto the players for their performances in the last two matches. 'They are Premier League players and they need to believe that. It's about confidence.
DS: “Sometimes the players just need the inner belief and confidence to embrace the fact that they’re Premier League players and deserve to be. “The atmosphere in both games so far... I must say it has been magnificent.”
Tomorrow is about
#NCFC focussing on their strengths and controlling the controllable - the elements of their performance. Smith adds that Krul had very little to do on Saturday. What he did do was mainly of City's making.
Smith believes
#NCFC are well on their way to achieving the first objective he set at his first presser - limiting chances of their opponents. Pleased with three of the four halves he has overseen.
Nice line from Smith about how Traore didn't get into
#NCFC's box with the ball on Saturday. Given they face Saint-Maximin tomorrow, that would be a good thing to repeat.
What does a Dean Smith
#NCFC side look away from home? 'There won't be much difference. But we are playing against a partisan crowd. Our job is to quieten them down. We want to be tough to beat.
Smith then adds that
#NCFC have players with plenty of attacking flair to create enough chances that could help win the game. Interesting line earlier about how this squad now believes it belongs at this level.
DS confirms Normann out for
#nufc. 'He needs to see a specialist but we'll wait and see.
On their low conversion rate, Smith says
#NCFC just need to focus on the creation of chances rather than concern themselves with taking them. As long as they do that, hopefully the goals will come.
Smith credits Lukas Rupp's performance against Wolves. Created two big chances for Aarons and Pukki, mentions by Smith for PLM and Sorensen who have impressed in training.
Ozan Kabak has been back in full training for a week. Smith says at the moment they don’t need two centre backs on the bench so Big Andy is getting the nod ahead of him.
No need for Teemu Pukki to dwell on those chances missed on Saturday. 'If we feed him, he will score.' Once again, Smith keen to stress that other areas need to chip in with goals.
'I pay respect to any team that we face, but we certainly don't fear anybody. We believe we deserve to be in the Premier League.' Hallelujah.
Smith says both him and Craig Shakespeare have been impressed by the balance and depth to the
#NCFC squad.