Connor in the Park

Although the Irishman has made two substitute appearances, as playing 90 minutes in Argyle’s 2-1 win at Notts County on Tuesday night, he is yet to feature in a match at home. 

That will change if selected when Argyle meet Mansfield Town at Home Park this Saturday. 

Smith missed the pre-season friendly with West Bromwich Albion and the Sky Bet League Two opening match against Luton Town, both at Home Park, though a hip injury sustained on the Pilgrims’ pre-season tour to the Netherlands. 

After being on the winning team at Wembley in the League Two play-off final in May, for Wimbledon against Argyle, summer signing Connor is looking forward to playing in front of the Green Army once again, but this time on the same side.

“The fans were unbelievable at Wembley when we played them in the play-off final,” said Connor. “That’s all you could hear throughout the game, they sold out their end.

“I’m looking forward to playing here and getting the home support as well.

Despite not being in Plymouth long, his thoughts on the club and the city are positive thus far.

“I think everything is brilliant,” he said. “The setup is good; the stadium’s unbelievable; the fans are unbelievable.  I love it, my girlfriend has moved down as well.  I’ve settled in really well, I’ve moved into a flat and the area is lovely and there are lots of things to see.”   

Smith’s wait following his Dutch injury is now over, and he can now take out his frustrations in his performances. 

“It was just an innocuous one in training,” he said of his injury, “I got my body in front of Rooners (Louis Rooney) and it was just a bit of a coming together really.  I had a problem with my hip afterwards; nobody’s fault, and I’m just glad to be up and running again now.

“I’m up to match fitness and I felt good on Tuesday, playing the game.”

This Saturday, Connor and his Argyle team-mates welcome Mansfield to Plymouth as they look to secure their first home win of the season.  

The Stags currently sit third in the table and have not lost yet so far this campaign. Already the division is tight, though, with only one team losing all three games, and no-one winning more than two. 

Smith will be treating Saturday’s opponents the same as any other, he says: “Mansfield are obviously a decent team and have started really well.  

“Even if they were bottom three or hadn’t started really well, you have to go into the game with the same mentality: any game is going to be tough. We are going into the game the same we would any other game; playing to get three points.

“We always say that bottom can always beat top in this league and you would not be surprised.  You have got to go into every game knowing it’s going to be tough.  

“There is no given in this league and you can’t go into a game thinking we are going to get three points here. You’ve got to earn your points.”

 

“We are coming in to this game with a bit more confidence after the win and we are hoping for 3 points again on Saturday.  There is no other plan but that; that can be the only goal really.

“It’s probably good that the next game is coming so quick after Tuesday when we got the win.  Hopefully we can take the confidence we got from Tuesday into the game on Saturday and put on a good performance for the fans here and get the result we need.”