TOWN boss Mark Cooper hailed the form of his 11-goal striker Michael Smith.

Robins fans will be hoping Smith's hot streak continues, as the Geordie striker will be essential in helping push Town back into the top three with a win at Chesterfield tomorrow.

The 23-year-old has certainly proved a lot of doubters wrong so far this season with 11 goals already and markedly improved hold-up play. His boss, Cooper, is definitely enjoying the benefits of the persistence he demonstrated with his charge last season.

“I knew (Smith) had the potential,” said the County Ground chief.

“He just had to tidy his link-up play and he’s worked extremely hard at it. You can see the effects we’re getting now.

“I kept saying last year I was his biggest ally. He was getting slaughtered last year, that he was a donkey, blah, blah, blah. He still scored 20 goals last year - as a young man. He still scored 20 goals in League Two and in League One.”

Much like Town’s less vaunted talents, Smith is showing the ability of the Town coaching staff to develop a raw talent.

It is something Cooper is rightly proud of.

“His all-around play has improved dramatically,” Cooper added. “We all knew at the club what a good player he was. He took relentless abuse and stick last year. We knew that if we kept working with him he would start to show and repay our faith in him.

“He was outstanding on Saturday, he scored two goals and his all around play was that of a real accomplished centre forward. You can see the work that we’ve done with him. He can now get hold of the ball and bring people into the game as well as scoring goals.”