Gillingham are set to face the League 2 top scorer this Saturday – and head coach Stephen Clemence knows him well.
Salford’s prolific marksman Matt Smith is the son-in-law of Steve Bruce – the man who Clemence spent over a decade with as an assistant manager.
Smith, with 14 goals to his name, has scored as many this season than the Gills have managed as a team in their 17 league games. The big forward will clearly be the dangerman in a Salford team that have otherwise underwhelmed this season.
Striker Smith, formerly of Leeds, Fulham and QPR, scored seven goals against the Gills during the 2014/15 season – including four in one match – while at Bristol City.
But it was in the early stages of his career that Clemence first noticed the 6ft 6inch striker.
The Gills coach said: “Matt is married to Steve Bruce’s daughter and so I have known him for a number of years.
“I first saw Matt when I was taking Hull’s under-21 team a long time ago and he was playing for Oldham in a training ground friendly, I was like ’who is this guy?’ He was bashing people about everywhere and scored a couple of goals on the day.
“I remember him from that moment and over the years I have got to know him more on a personal level as well, he is definitely one we have to be aware of. He is the top scorer in the division and is going to be a threat so we have to deal with it.
“He is a very good player and has always been a handful but they have many other good players as well, you have to prepare the boys for what’s coming and let them know what Salford are good at but you also have to let them know where we can hurt them.
“We have to try and pick holes in what Salford might not be so good at and try and take advantage of that too.
“Of course there is a physicality when you have Matt upfront but Salford do try and play the ball on the floor more often that not, we will have to have ways to stop that.
“You can worry about the opposition too much sometimes, you have to be aware of their qualities and where they have hurt previous opposition, but we are at home, this is our patch, they are coming here and we have to ready to take the game to them and that’s what I will be looking to do.”
While the Gills had a week without a midweek game, Salford were involved in a thrilling FA Cup first round replay that went the distance, ending 4-4 in extra-time after opponents Peterborough took the tie to penalties with a 123rd minute goal.
Smith went off at the break in that match with their boss Neil Wood saying he “wasn’t feeling great” but added that he was expecting the striker back for the weekend league match.
For Gills’ head coach Clemence, it’s his first league game in charge at Priestfield coming up this Saturday.
He said: “So many people have said to me about what a difficult place it is to play for an away opponent, I just want to make sure we carry that on.
“I know on the pitch we have to give the fans a team that they are proud of and one that is working flat out, giving their all and I am sure we can.
“I am really looking forward to getting infront of the home supporters, getting them behind us and them being our 12th man.”
