Lewis Smith reckons two wins will give Hamilton Accies a fighting chance of progressing from their Premier Sports Cup group.
The Championship side go into battle with League Two opponents Forfar Athletic at Station Park this afternoon, with Smith well aware that a win is going to be vital to their chances of getting out of Group H.
A 3-0 opening day defeat at Dundee set John Rankin’s side back, but Smith was on target with a fifth as Accies beat Stranraer 5-2 on Tuesday, with goals from Andy Winter, Andy Ryan and a Matty Shiels double.
With a potential final day crunch against Queen's Park looming next Saturday, the winger said: “Hopefully we can get a similar result. On Saturday it was disappointing, but hopefully Tuesday night will give us confidence that we can score goals, and we can do the same on Saturday.
“It puts it into our own hands. If we win against Forfar and get another win against Queen’s Park, it might take us through, so that’s all we can hope for.
“We played some really good stuff on Tuesday, and obviously if that makes the fans happy that’s what it’s all about.”
Smith was pleased with the result at New Douglas Park on Tuesday night, but says that was after a poor first half.
Accies scored four goals in six minutes to blow Stranraer away, and Smith was pleased to grab his first competitive goal of the new season with a fifth.
He said: “The first half wasn’t good enough from ourselves, we knew that. We didn’t start great and missed a few chances.
“In the second half in the first 15 minutes we managed to score a few goals, and I’m happy to score myself as well with the last one.”
At 22, Accies fan Smith is hoping this will be a big season for him, and he can stake a claim for a regular starting slot.
He said: “It’s massive. I know towards the end of last season I wasn’t playing as much, but I’ve come back in pre-season, I’m fit, and ready to go this season to do whatever I can to help the team.
“I want to get in the team and stay there. Everyone wants to play – me just as much as anyone else.
“I want to play every single week, contribute with goals and assists – what I’m good at – so hopefully I can keep doing that this season.”
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