TOWN striker Michael Smith has admitted it is becoming harder to play down his side’s fine start to the League One season.

At every press call, there is the inevitable question luring manager Mark Cooper to wax lyrical about his team and whip the Town faithful into a frenzy but the County Ground chief remains reserved and takes time to pick his words carefully.

Their possession football has caught the eye of many, including The Independent, who had a reporter at yesterday’s press conference, with Cooper also scooping the manager of the month award after taking his side to second in the table and claiming some notable scalps over the last few weeks.

Smith, however, believes a lot of the credit belongs to the defence who set the foundations for the way the team can play.

“I think they go under the radar a bit but that is the base of how we play,” said the striker.

“Wes (Foderingham) Nath (Thompson), Jack (Stephens) and Jordan (Turnbull); that is how we set up and if they’re not having a good game, we can’t function further up the pitch, so I don’t think they get enough credit.

“In the changing room, they do. Yhe boys know exactly what they do on the pitch and the boys appreciate it.

“As the gaffer keeps saying, take it game by game but obviously it is nice to see we are appreciated for what we are doing here.

“(Going about our work quietly) was the aim but we are sat second, so I think it is going to be quite hard to carry that on when we are beating big teams.”

Smith will be pushing for a return to the starting line-up this weekend when Town travel to Notts County.

The striker started Tuesday night’s friendly with Swindon Supermarine as he looked to get over the shoulder injury that has kept him out since before the trip to Peterborough last month.

Smith has admitted that he is still feeling a little pain in his shoulder but is hoping that a large dose of painkillers will see him through this weekend if Cooper chosen.

“The injury is getting there,” he said.

“It is a four-to-six week job to be pain-free, so I’m just taking it game-by-game.

“I will just get a few painkillers down me and I should be alright.

“I just love playing football, so I will play anywhere, whether it is at the County Ground or Supermarine. I just love getting out there and putting on the shirt.

“It feels longer for me (since playing last) but the boys are raring to go.”