Leo Smith: Winning the treble with The New Saints would be ‘amazing’

To go unbeaten in a domestic league season is quite the achievement, and this TNS team stand on the precipice of a monumental achievement.

After capturing both the JD Cymru Premier and the Nathaniel MG Cup, the Saints are 90 minutes away from the JD Welsh Cup and an invincible Welsh domestic season.

For midfielder Leo Smith, talk of an unbeaten campaign was mentioned at the start of the year, and after their defeat to Airdrieonians in the final of the SPFL Trust Trophy, they want to make sure they win the treble.

“Collectively as a group and as a team, our aim was, first and foremost Europe, and then after we got knocked out of that, we set ourselves targets for the upcoming domestic season. We’re very near to those targets, we’re almost there. We’re disappointed with the SPFL Trust Trophy final, but it’s one of those where we can look back on it and try and improve again next year. But we’re looking forward to the final on Sunday now.”

Things could have been a lot different for Craig Harrison’s side this season. In this year’s JD Welsh Cup semi-final, they found themselves two goals down against Cardiff Met.

However, they turned things around to win the tie 6-2 to book their place at Rodney Parade. Smith believed their defeat to Airdrieonians still lingered on that day but praised the team’s collective strength in getting the win.

“You suffer losses in football, but it’s all about how you recover from them. We carried that defeat into the Welsh Cup semi-final against Cardiff Met. We didn’t start great, and looking back on it now, you could see the whole team was still thinking about that loss to Airdrie. It’s all about how you respond in those difficult moments. 

“In the second half of that game, we were brilliant, and we need to make sure from start to finish on Sunday we’re at the top of our game, because we know how good we can be. It’s not about individuals, it’s about the team. There’s always competition for places when you’ve got two players competing for each position, sometimes it’s even more than that. It makes you want to work hard in training every day. It’s a brilliant team to be a part of.”

A familiar foe stands in the way of the Saints and a reunion with the Welsh Cup; Connah’s Quay Nomads.

The Nomads and TNS have faced each other countless times over the years, and when it comes to Sunday’s clash, Smith is expecting yet another difficult challenge.

“We’re expecting the same as we had the weekend just gone. They’re a good side, they’ve changed the way they’ve played over the last couple of seasons to this season. Their threat lies in counterattacks, and we need to make sure that we nullify their threats and identify what their key areas are going to look like. If we do that and play our own game, we’ll be ok.”

If they’re able to navigate past the Nomads, this TNS team will be able to write themselves into the history books, a prospect Smith and the rest of his side are eager to achieve.

“From going the whole season unbeaten, winning the MG Cup, to win the treble on Sunday would be amazing. It would be the first time for me doing it if we are able to do it, and I’m looking forward to the challenge.”