Alan Tate believes that defeat at the Millennium Stadium made him a stronger person

The Swansea City player missed one of the crucial penalties in that final together with spurning a good chance towards the end of the game which would have sent the Swans into the Championship two years before they finally made it.

But Tate is very admanat that the experience of losing made him a stronger person but also believes that these things happen for a reason.

Speaking to the Evening Post on the eve of the first meeting with Barnsley since that day in May 2006, Tate said "I think maybe losing that game was a blessing in disguise

"You couldn't have predicted on that day we would be where we are now, in the Championship and not far from the play-offs.

"I think with the gaffer, Graeme Jones and Colin Pascoe, this is a different club from what it was a couple of years ago.

"Sometimes that's the way things can go in football.

"I'm not having a dig at Kenny

"It's just that things are going different ways now.

"Tactically we are different, the players are different and the mentality around the club is different.

"Kenny did it his way and it worked — on another day, we would have been the ones who won the shootout and we'd have been in the Championship.

"But things are working now, too. It just depends on the style you prefer and I think the fans would take the gaffer now.

"I still haven't watched the game back

"We were all given the DVD after the game, and I got as far as us walking out on to the pitch at the Millennium before I switched it off.

"I'll watch any game, whether I've played well, done okay, played badly, missed a penalty or scored an own goal.

"But that's one I just can't bring myself to watch.

"I had a chance at the end of 90 minutes, Trunds had one in extra time," he goes on.

"Now I wouldn't normally score, but Trunds would.

"Then me and Bayo went and missed penalties. It was just one of those games we were destined not to win and I think the experience made me stronger.

"I've got no problems with what I'm doing at the moment," he says in reference to questions about his small role so far this season.

"I have heard a few people saying that I am going to leave and people have asked me if I am going.

"But I'm not going anywhere.

"Maybe there will be a point in the future where I do have to think about it, but right now I'm happy.

"It's the manager's choice," he concedes.

"If he thinks I should be back on the bench then that's how he sees it.

"A couple of years ago I probably would have been crying and moaning, but that's when I was trying to build a career.

"Now I'm in the middle of one.

"Like the manager says, I have just got to wait for my time.

"I trust the manager and he trusts me, and that's a good position to be in."

"Like I have said before, this is the club I love playing for and Swansea feels like home."

Photo: Action Images

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