Harry Smith said that he would play anywhere for Swindon Town manager Ian Holloway after starting at centre-back against AFC Wimbledon.
In what was the curveball of curveballs on Tuesday night, Holloway chose to start his top goalscorer in the middle of the back three.
Smith has been the key man in Town’s attack all season, both through his goals and how he allows the team to play, but the former Crystal Palace manager revealed that the decision was partially due to needing to rest the striker.
Speaking to BBC Radio Wiltshire after the game, Smith said that he would be willing to play wherever he was asked for his manager.
He said: “We caught them out with what we did, I don’t think they expected that, and they changed their back line thinking that I would be up there.
“The boys up front caused them chaos in the first half, but we couldn’t quite take our chances.
“The gaffer spoke to me yesterday and said, ‘Could I do a job there?’
“Listen, I will do a job for that man; he has been excellent since has has come in, and wherever he wants me to play, I will play there for him.
“I really enjoyed it. It was a bit different as usually I am thinking about scoring goals, and today was more about trying to stop them.
“I played there a good few years ago in pre-season, but it is quite simple for me.
“I play against back fours and back threes all the time, so I pretty much know where the defender should be.
“Then I have Will [Wright] and the young Billy [Kirkman] with me and talking to me, and then I have [Connor] Ripley behind me. They made it easy for me.”
Paul Glatzel was also asked about the decision to start Smith at the back, and he said that he felt Wimbledon were as baffled by it as he was when he first heard about it.
He said: “At first it was a surprise. I think all of the lads were a bit surprised when we found out, but when the gaffer explained the reasoning behind it, we understood.
“I thought it worked well, and then when we needed him up top, he moved up there.
“I don’t think anyone in the stadium expected it, and I think their game plan went out of the window when they saw it.”
