Alex Smithies would like to hang to the QPR keeper’s shirt - and not just because the current number one is suspended.
The man Rs paid Huddersfield £1m for will start against Blackburn tonight and reckons he will do his cause no harm if he gets the better of former Terriers team-mate Jordan Rhodes.
Smithies was a bit sketchy about duels with the Rovers hot-shot that was hardly surprising. Since Rhodes switched to Blackburn in 2012, he’s put six past the Rs keeper, in for the suspended Rob Green, sent off in the 2-1 home defeat to Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
Here are the highlights including Green's dismissal and Smithies' debut.
The new gloveman can point to a goalless draw at Ewood Park last term, when Rhodes also missed a penalty, and another clean sheet the season before that.
But Rhodes scored a hat-trick against Smithies in March 2014 and has slotted three others before and after.
“I’m playing against my old friend Jordan who I played with at Huddersfield and we’ve had good battles in the past,” said Smithies.
“I’ve saved a penalty, and he’s scored as well, and we’ll do our best to try and keep him out.”
“I hold Rob (Green) in the highest regard, but at the same time I’ve come to challenge and not just sit on the bench.
“I want to push him all the way, and help the team at the same time.”
Smithies was in no doubt the move south had come at the right time for the 25-year-old.
“Maybe things at Huddersfield have slowed down, and I thought it was a chance to get away and restart my career,” he added.
