They are receiving plenty of plaudits for their blistering start to the season but Brisbane Roar defender Matt Smith insists there’s no chance his team will let the current hype around the club go to its head.
The Roar, along with undefeated league leaders Adelaide United, have set the competition alight over the 11 rounds of the current campaign, with their free-flowing, passing game earning them a plenty of wraps.
It’s a far cry from the tumult of last season when Ange Postecoglou’s side finished second last on the back of a forgettable campaign full of off-field upheaval and a string of poor results.
The optimism and feel-good factor has returned to the club and while admitting everyone is proud of the turnaround, Smith said his team-mates wouldn’t be resting on their laurels.
“Winning’s a bit of a habit, the same as losing and it’s hard to get in and out of it,” the 28-year-old said.
“People are saying we could be title contenders and we could do this and we could do that this season.”
“But at the end of the day we just have to focus on what we’re doing, which we’ve done all year. We’re not worried about that sort of talk.”
“We haven’t set any targets for the year which I think takes the pressure off the boys and it’s showing.”
“The management lets us go out and express ourselves on the pitch which gives us a fair bit of confidence.”
Far from being content with the side’s current form, Smith has no doubt the Queenslanders have the capabilities to go to another level.
“We need to be more consistent in what we’re doing … I still think can go up a couple more gears and hopefully that will develop,” he said.
“We’re still a new squad. You have to remember we had 10 or 11 new players come in during the off-season.”
“Although we had a long pre-season to get to know one another, we’re still learning each other’s pattern of play.”
“We’re still formulating our relationships with players around us and I’m hoping we step up some more from here.”
And the Roar will need to step it up on Saturday night if they are to continue their winning run when they face a rejuvenated Sydney FC at the SFS.
While the Sky Blues have struggled this season and are still propping up the league ladder, they have history on their side heading into this match having never lost to the Roar in eight previous clashes in Sydney.
Vitezslav Lavicka’s side should also have renewed confidence after breaking through for their first win of the season, a 3-0 demolition of Perth Glory on the road last weekend.
“I think it’s great Sydney got the win but more importantly for us we don’t need to focus on what they’re doing,” Smith said.
“We’re aware of their capabilities but we’d rather concentrate on our own strategies and tactics.”
“If we focus on those I think we’ll do okay.”
The Sydney encounter is the first of a tricky stretch of three games in a week for the Roar, with a midweek match against the Phoenix in Wellington followed by a top-of-the-table home clash with Adelaide United.
