The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Smith catching the eye in attack and defence
The back line of Dundee United have rightly come in for praise this season for their defensive stoutness but the recent attacking verve of right-back Liam Smith is also catching the eye.
Since scoring a fine equaliser in the 2-1 defeat to Rangers at Tannadice last month, Smith, who last night signed a contract extension until 2023, has been in terrific form for the Tangerines.
With the 24-year-old on the right and fellow fullback Jamie Robson on the left, Micky Mellon’s Terrors have used the flanks to good effect when lining up in a traditional 4-4-2 or an alternating 5-3-2/3-5-2 formation.
They have favoured the latter in their recent run of results, which has seen them succumb only to champions Celtic in the six games since that Gers loss.
Particularly down former Ayr United and Hearts defender Smith’s side have the Tannadice team looked most dangerous.
That was never clearer than in Tuesday’s 2-2 home draw with St Johnstone, with a huge 45.4% of United’s attacks coming down the right-hand side.
Of the back five, wingback Smith was by far the most advanced, playing almost as an extra midfielder for large swathes of the contest, making three crosses from open play and winning four fouls for his side. At the other end of the park, too, the Fifer was important.
Smith won a game-high 87.5% of his duels, with him and Robson often acting as an outlet ball as he registered 63 touches.
In the previous match at Aberdeen, Smith’s defensive aptitude was also on display as he made four interceptions to win back control of the ball.
He peppered the Dons box with crosses, firing in four from open play in the Pittodrie stalemate, as the former St Mirren full-back once more pushed high up the park.
These are not isolated instances either. Against the Gers, Kilmarnock and Motherwell, Smith bombed forward with real purpose.
Besides his aforementioned goal against the Premiership leaders, Smith
was United’s main attacking threat as he fired in two shots and created a chance for his side as 45.2% of their attacks came from the right.
In defence, he won the ball back a joint game-high eight times, giving the Tangerines the platform to push on.
Against Killie, once more, most of United’s forward play was coming down the right flank with Smith and Paul Mcmullan the mostused combination, finding each other 12 times in the match.
It was the same story when Motherwell came calling at Tannadice, with almost half of the home side’s attacks running through Smith and Mcmullan – the former picking out the latter 15 times.
The right-back created a chance for the Terrors and made a match-best 38 passes in the opposition half.
In front of his own goal, Smith was crucial, too, winning 66.7% of his duels and 83.3% of ones in the air to lead his side in those categories.
The only thing you feel is missing from Smith’s game at the moment is striking up that old Ayr partnership with Lawrence Shankland, so effective for United as they won the Championship last season.
Smith picked out the Terrors dangerman six times against Motherwell and three when St Johnstone came to town.
Continuing to lift those levels a little could see that duo become a deadly combination once more.