Matt Smith makes Elland Road claim before Leeds clash

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In comments reported by London News Online, Matt Smith has insisted that he loves playing at Elland Road as Millwall prepare to face Leeds United in their latest Championship clash on Tuesday.

Smith remains a fairly popular figure amongst the Leeds fans after a good spell with the club earlier in his career.

The 30-year-old spent just over a year with the Whites. And he left having scored 14 goals in 48 appearances in all competitions. Exactly half of his 42 league appearances came from the bench.

There was plenty of confusion and frustration when he was given the green light to join Fulham in 2014.

Plenty has changed since then, with Leeds under new ownership and now competing towards the top of the division. Smith meanwhile, is now playing for Millwall after spells at Bristol City and Queens Park Rangers.

Gary Rowett’s side’s next game takes them to Smith’s former home. And the striker admitted that he always enjoys returning to West Yorkshire and playing in front of the Leeds fans.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” he said, as reported by London News Online. “I love playing at Elland Road. It was a home ground that I had a lot of success at. It will be a great atmosphere and two teams near the top of the table.

“It’s a huge club with huge tradition,” he added. “I was only there for a season but managed to get myself 14 goals. That’s what catapulted my Championship career.

“Getting that number of goals in my first season in the Championship is something I’ll never forget. They have got a fierce fanbase.”

Smith could certainly cause problems for Marcelo Bielsa’s side. Leeds do not boast the tallest defence, and they have looked vulnerable from set-pieces at times in recent weeks.

And with the automatic-promotion chasers struggling to put teams to the sword this season, Millwall will be well aware of how crucial one goal could be at any stage of the contest.