It appears that Tyler Smith enjoys taking on his former team, Doncaster Rovers.
In Tuesday’s 1-1 League Two draw, the Bradford City striker came off the bench to score a beautiful goal that kept the hosts in the game. It was his first goal at the league level since the December 23 match at the Eco-Power Stadium, where he scored first time into the roof of the net off a cross from fellow substitute Harry Chapman.
The former frontman for Hull City and Sheffield United struck against a Rovers team led by Grant McCann, who he briefly played for while playing for the Tigers and Doncaster. It was a momentous occasion for the player.
He spent 2018–19 on loan at Rovers.
Smith, who has scored 11 goals so far this season across all competitions (four in the league), said: “I’ve scored against Donny a few times now. I just play and hopefully score, not really thinking too much.
“The last league goal was against Donny at their field, and we’re playing them back-to-back right now. It was encouraging to see it hit the back of the net because I practise those every day in training.
“It was enormous for me.” There is confidence and another objective. Personally, I think setting goals is a good idea.
“I’ve had to stay ready and I am always ready for my opportunity and this was a night where I managed to come on and rescue a point for us.”
Aside from Smith’s moment, City had a difficult evening as they found it difficult to get going on a challenging surface and appeared a little off during their first league game in 17 days after two postponements, at least in the first half.
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“That’s not good at all,” Smith continued. Our purpose for being here is to have fun. It is therefore not ideal when games are cancelled and we are left sitting there watching other people’s results when we should be playing.
“But that’s beyond our control. All we can do is make sure everything is ready; if everything is on, everything is on. That concludes it.
