Dean Smith said he owes it to the players and the fans to pick his strongest available side for Saturday’s trip to the John Smiths’ Stadium to take on Huddersfield Town. The Bees’ Head Coach received a boost this week with the news that Lasse Vibe and Jake Bidwell are both back in contention for the trip to Yorkshire. Victory for Dean’s side could see them end the season in ninth place in the Sky Bet Championship and The Bees boss thinks that would signal a job well done this campaign.
“From where we were eight games ago it is a terrific finish,” said Dean. “We have finished the season really well and that is a credit to the players and how hard they have worked. We had eight games in April and it has been a great return. Some of the football has been really good as well. If it is a top ten finish this season then everyone at the club will be pleased with that. There have been a lot of changes at the football club and the players, staff, and club have had to adjust to that. We are coming to the end of the season now and it will be mightily satisfying to be in the top ten now. It is important that we finish the season in the right way and to do that I need to pick the strongest team that I have got. I don’t want to do a disservice to the supporters or the players. We have got Lasse Vibe and Jake Bidwell both training with us so they will be added to the squad and then we will decide on the team.”
Avoiding defeat against David Wagner’s side would see The Bees extend their good run of form at the end of the season to just one defeat in nine. Dean thinks it would be a great confidence boost for next season to go into the summer break on the back of a victory, citing the achievements of Leicester City this season after their fine end to last season’s Premier League campaign.
“I have always believed that it can give you momentum and take you into the following season with a lot of confidence,” said Dean. “You only have to look at Leicester City. Last season they had to win a number of games to stay up. They did that beating the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United and now this season they have the fairytale of winning the Premier League. That shows how much momentum you can take forward into pre-season training and the season as well because you don’t have to change too much when things are going well.”
The fine run has seen personal plaudits come the way of Dean Smith and striker Scott Hogan, who has scored five goals in 93 minutes this month, as the pair were shortlisted for the Sky Bet Championship Manager and Player of the Month awards for April. The winners of those awards are announced on Friday with Dean saying that the nominations are a reward for the hard work put in by everyone around the training ground this season.
“It is always pleasing to have those nominations,” said Dean. “My nomination is for the whole staff: everybody has pulled together to get that reward. I feel Lasse Vibe has been harshly done by as he scored six goals and got two assists but not at the quick level that Scott Hogan got it. It is great to be nominated and just shows the work that the club has done in the last month.”