Monday 27 April 2015 08:08, UK
Bournemouth's Adam Smith told Sky Sports he is ready to bounce back from the worst moment of his career to win promotion.
A victory on Monday night against Bolton Wanderers would all but clinch the Cherries' place in the top flight and Smith insists he and his team-mates will be ready to grasp that opportunity.
Eddie Howe's side were seconds away from picking up a vital 2-1 home victory over the Owls last weekend, despite having been reduced to 10-men following the dismissal of defender Simon Francis for two bookable offences.
The win would have restored Bournemouth to top spot in the Championship. But, with 94 minutes on the watch, Smith agonisingly brought down Wednesday frontman Atdhe Nuhiu just inside the 18-yard box, leaving referee Paul Tierney with no choice but to point to the spot.
Wednesday midfielder Chris Maguire made no mistake from 12 yards, leaving Bournemouth's automatic promotion hopes in the balance and a distraught Smith in tears at the final whistle.
"I would probably say it was the worst feeling in my career. But players have had worse things happen to them in football, just look at the Reading goalkeeper against Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-finals," Smith said.
"Mistakes happen, that is part and parcel of football and life. I just want to make sure I don’t have that feeling again or make it as rare as possible in my career.
"I just want to prove to myself that I can bounce back and help the lads get the win. I have forgotten about last week, I am sure the supporters have forgotten about it and are looking forward to the next game now.
"There is no point dwelling on the past. We have just got to look to the future, and our future is in our own hands."
Support
Howe was quick to defend Smith following the draw with Wednesday, a result which left them in second spot, level with third-placed Middlesbrough and trailing league leaders Watford, who sealed a place in the top-flight on Saturday after securing a 2-0 win at Brighton.
And the 23-year-old revealed the support of his team-mates has been pivotal in helping him through the tough aftermath.
Smith added: "As soon as I got in the changing room, obviously I was still quite upset and all the lads came up to me and told me 'it's not just your fault, we did not perform well enough and these things happen'.
"All the lads really supported me, which was nice and caring. They know it was not entirely my fault. This could have happened to any one of them, it just so happened to be me.
"The lads were very supportive to me, that's what it is like at Bournemouth. There is an amazing team spirit and we all stick together.
"I have been at quite a few clubs on-loan, but I don’t think I have ever been at a place where the players are all actually friends outside of football.
"We go out for coffees and all hang out together. We are all actually real friends and the team spirit in the camp is so good. It’s a great place to be and obviously that shows with our performances."
Chance
Smith, who spent a month on-loan with Bournemouth in 2010, re-joined the club from Tottenham Hotspur in January 2014, this time on a permanent basis, penning a three-and-a-half year deal at the Goldsands Stadium.
Since leaving White Hart Lane, the former England U21 international has seen fellow academy graduates Ryan Mason, Harry Kane and Andros Townsend make their mark on the Spurs first-team under Mauricio Pochettino.
The trio's outstanding form this season has also earned them international recognition, with England boss Roy Hodgson calling upon all three in his side's 1-1 friendly match draw with Italy in Turin last month.
Although fully focused on reaching the top-flight with Bournemouth and having the opportunity to play against his old pals, Smith admits to having casted an envious eye at their success, if only for a brief moment.
"Obviously I look at it and think for a split second 'if only I was there', but I feel whatever is meant to be will be. And, if I get into the Premier League with Bournemouth, that was meant to be," he said.
"We all had the ability to play, but when I was at Tottenham, we just never got the chance and the club was spending big money on buying talent from abroad, at the same age, which just did not make sense.
"It was frustrating we did not get those opportunities then, but Pochettino has come in and given them their chance and they have shown their have got the ability to play in the Premier League.
"I am delighted to see my friends playing not only for Spurs, but for England as well, they are such great players and they deserve it."
Ahead of the home clash with Bolton - a match which is live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 7.30pm on Monday - Smith insists he and his team-mates will continue to ignore reservations over their promotion bid as they attempt to seal Bournemouth's place in the top-flight for the first time in their history.
Victory over Neil Lennon's side would all but seal the south-coast club's place among the English elite, with a goal difference currently of plus 47, 16 goals better off than closest rivals Middlesbrough.
"It is every kid's dream to play in the Premier League. It would mean everything to me, I'm sure it would for the rest of the lads here as well," he said.
"No-one expected us to be in this position which makes it even sweeter. People still doubt us now and it will taste even sweeter when we get it done."
Watch Bournemouth v Bolton live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 7.30pm on Monday
