Jack Smith is feeling loved again, and last weekend the AFC Wimbledon defender repaid that love with an unexpected present.

The left-back bagged the opening goal in Dons’ 2-2 draw at the CRRS against Tranmere Rovers – although whether he actually meant to score remains open to debate.

In 248 league appearances over 14 years, Smith has scored just 13 goals – so he is happy to claim the intention of a cross that dipped over the Rovers stopper.

Nevertheless, Smith has put behind him a torrid spell at League One Millwall, and an injury plagued start to the season, to feature in the past six games.

The 31-year-old joined the Dons on a free transfer over the summer after being sidelined at the Den by new manager Ian Holloway.

For six months he wondered if his time in football was over, until the Dons came calling.

He said: “It is nice to be playing games again, I had a long time doing nothing and you can lose enthusiasm for the game.

“I felt I had not done anything wrong at Millwall, and the way I was treated left a bit of a sour taste.

“A new manager came in [Ian Holloway] and within a week I was training with the U21s – I don’t know why.

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Dark days: Jack Smith's time at Millwall ended with the arrival of new boss Ian Holloway in January

“That was January and a few clubs came in looking to take me on loan but it was not what I was looking for.

“They were League One clubs to be fair, but they were up north and I didn’t really want to move away from home.”

He added: “I was happy to drop to League Two, to stay in and around home because it’s important to me to have a good family life, it keeps me happy.

“And it’s nice to be somewhere where you are a bit more respected and a bit more love.”

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Smith certainly felt the love from the CRRS stands when his fast-improving relationship with Sean Rigg on the left gave him space to cross, and score.

He said: “I meant to score....ish. I certainly meant to dink into that area, and if it didn’t go in I was hoping that Bayo would be in and around the spot to put it in, but fortunately it has gone straight in and I’ll claim it.

“I don’t get many, so you cannot take it off me. I should score more, but it was nice to get one at last.”

He added: “Rigg is easy to play alongside, I just give him the ball and let him do his stuff, and if he needs to I am there for him to roll back to.

“Against Tranmere, we didn’t get the ball in as much as we’d like but when we did, we created chances and that’s what we’ve got to be looking to do.

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Happy days: Jack Smith, centre, enjoys his first goal for Dons with Sean Rigg, right, and Matt Tubbs    SP88176

Smith, who also saw Adebayo Akinfenwa head home his eighth goal in nine games in the Tranmere draw, picked up a knee injury in the Capital One Cup in August.

He has missed 10 games, making his return in the 1-1 draw at Cheltenham Town at the beginning of October.

“I am feeling really good now, and I’ve had no trouble with the knee since,” he said.

“It is now a case of getting the fitness back – I’ve had about six or seven games in three weeks so I am gradually getting there.

“I am still getting a little tired towards the end of 90 minutes, but with each passing game I am getting stronger and stronger.”

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