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Press article:
Seven up! That's Tates's Target - 03/03/2006
Swansea City aim to become only the second side this season to win at Barnsley tomorrow with Alan Tate admitting at least seven victories are required for automatic promotion. Kenny Jackett's men bid to do a Doncaster - they triumphed at Oakwell in the league and the LDV Vans Trophy before Christmas - knowing three points could catapult them back into League One's top two.
On the other hand, defeat in South Yorkshire could see Swansea slump to sixth in the table - their lowest position since the opening weeks of the campaign.
"You look at the top six and it's really, really tight," Tate said.
"I think it will swing one way and then the other before the end of the season, and it looks sure to go down to the last game.
"I hope it doesn't - I hope we're already up by then - but that's the way it looks.
"To make it, we cannot afford to get beaten too many more times. I think we'll need at least seven wins from our last 11 games, maybe even eight."
Jackett, whose search for a defensive loan signing has come to nothing, is looking for Swansea's final promotion push to kick off this weekend.
"It's a massive game for us because the two sides are so close in the table," he said.
"There are six points separating the top six sides and this is by far the tightest of the divisions.
"Whichever two teams finish up in the top two are going to need a big run to get there, so that's what we're looking for."
With no new face, the Swansea manager must find someone to play alongside Garry Monk in central defence this weekend.
Kristian O'Leary, back in contention after nearly three months on the sidelines with knee trouble, looks favourite for the job, though Alan Tate is another option.
If he drops back from midfield, fit-again Darren Way could pip club skipper Roberto Martinez to a start.
Barnsley's impressive home record is the best in the division - as Nottingham Forest's was until Swansea won there last month.
"We won up there by digging in rather than playing particularly well, and we'll have to battle again tomorrow," Tate added.
South Wales Post
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