MArk Gower is ready to shoulder the blame should the Swans exit the FA Cup at Fulham on Tuesday

The Swansea City midfielder spurned some good chances in the first game at the Liberty just over a week ago and he is ready to accept that those misses could cost the Swans dear.

The post and Mark Schwarzer kept Gower off the scoresheet as he continues that elusive search for his first Swansea goal - six months into the season.

And the Swans take on Fulham at Craven Cottage on Tuesday night knowing that the reward for victory will be a quarter final appearance against Manchester United - the side currently 8 points clear at the top of the Premiership.

Speaking to Wales on Sunday, Gower said “I know I played well and I was pleased with that. And the staff have been great, telling me I’m not in the side to score goals.

“That was fine when it wasn’t costing the side any points because we’ve had Jason on fire and we’d been keeping clean sheets.

“But when you miss a chance like I did against Fulham then it’s not about you, it’s about costing the team; and that sticks in your throat.

“To be fair, I think I’ve been unlucky so far this year but that was my first one I should have put away. Perhaps if I’d had a couple already and it wasn’t going through my mind I would have.

“So to see Jason score later on was just a massive relief for me because we had dominated that game.

“But then when Manchester United comes out of the hat you can’t help thinking that if I had put that in then we would be in the quarter-finals.

“Or even if I’d just had a bit of luck off the post we could be looking forward to one of the biggest games of our careers. And that’s what’s getting to me. People are saying ‘unlucky’ but when it starts costing the team it’s not a joke."

Amusingly Gower also says that he was advised not to take the dreaded number 11 shirt that seems to have become somewhat of a curse in recent seasons “At the start of the season a few of the boys told me not to take it because lads who had it before had not had the greatest of times here, especially in front of goal.

“And I didn’t want to take it at first after all that. Number 29 was available and I was 29 when I signed so I was happy to wear that.

“But the manager urged me to take the No.11 and here we are. But I’m just looking for something else to blame now because I really don’t know what’s going on.

“We can beat Fulham without a shadow of a doubt; and that’s not just us saying that.

“When you hear someone like Sir Alex Ferguson saying what he did you know you must have a chance.

“Sometimes you question yourself whether you’re playing as well as you think, but then you hear what people like Sir Alex say and the TV coverage, and realise we are that good at the moment and we have nothing to fear.

“Even talking to Simon Davies after the first game, he was saying how frustrated he was because he hardly had a kick and had to chase shadows for 90 minutes. If you can do that to a Premier League team then it says something and we can’t help but take confidence from that.

“At first we were hoping for another lower-key game because you see what Cardiff and Barnsley did last year and you start dreaming.

“But then United come out and you realise you’re one win away from such a fantastic opportunity and a game against the best team in the world.

“And it’s not just about United, it’s the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and that’s a huge thing for many of us.

“It may not be a major, major achievement for some but although I started my career at Spurs I never played at the highest level; and for someone who’s only played two full years at this level it’s big.

“I’m 30 and I know there might not be many more opportunities like this and it’s definitely something you can look back on.

“And we know if we go to Fulham and perform as we know we can, and be ourselves, that chance is there for us.”

Photo: Action Images

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