Grant Smith
I’m not a fan of scapegoats and I don’t want to call Josh Vickers out for a couple of errors as I still feel he’s a top keeper at this level. Josh is big, strong and is a great shot-stopper and I think he’s been an easy target when left exposed of late. He didn’t cover himself in glory at Wycombe or Rochdale, plus conceding six was not a good look against Oxford, but I firmly believe he’s a good keeper for this level.
However, that doesn’t mean Grant Smith isn’t going to get a chance to stake a first team claim. Vickers was never going to be dropped post Oxford, it would have destroyed him as dropping Paul Farman for Ryan Allsop effectively ended the Stevenage man’s stint with us. That doesn’t mean that a good outing from Smith this evening, assuming Appleton rotates his keepers, won’t give him a chance of starting against Sunderland.
He might have been the second choice under the previous manager, but he’s got a great chance to show why he was voted National League Keeper of the Year in 2017/18.
Just hope changes are made the centre of defence is not strong and lacks class and leadership defence plays to deep forwards not on good form and a shake up is needed. Keep the faith trust in Appleton and we will see this season out successfully although new players are needed with others to leave