x

Tate: We Must Bounce Back

Alan Tate says the Swans must bounce back from their Bristol City defeat

The Swansea City defender was echoing the words of his manager as he called on the Swans to put Wednesday night behind them and focus on the job in hand.

Tate admitted that everyone will get an off night from time to time but seems to recognise that the key to those off nights is bouncing back as he explained to the Evening Post

"The first half was probably the poorest I've seen us play for some years

"But at the end of the day, everyone's allowed an off night and I'd rather it be Wednesday night than last Sunday.

"Hopefully, that's a reality check and we can kick on from here and put another good run together.

"We can't complain. Apart from Wednesday we are playing well.

"We'll move on to the next game and try to put things right because good teams don't lose two in a row.

"You look at any team that does well — they bounce back and that's what we've got to do.

"It's no good dwelling on a defeat and worrying too much about it.

"If Barcelona, Real Madrid and Manchester United can have off days, so can we.

"All we can do now is move on.

"They scored an early goal, sat back and defended it

"If we'd started the game like we started the second half I think we would have won. We kept plugging away. We were trying to get the equaliser as quickly as we could and then get the winner.

"They (Middlesbrough) are a good team. They've got good individuals, for whatever reason they weren't playing well under Strachan, but they are a dangerous team.

"I know from my own experience that teams at the bottom battle and I think Boro will come here and have a right go."

What to read next:

Should Russell Martin Put Out Another Reserve Side For Leeds United Trip
Against Stoke City Russell martin selected a side that was very much a second string line up, with the play offs looming should the manager repeat this for the trip to take on Leeds on Saturday.
A Rough Guide To Leeds United
A big big game for just Leeds now, although by Saturday the odds on them going up automatically might have changed slightly so here is all the info for those travelling Saints fans who are still going,
Southampton Should Not Fear Anyone In The Play Offs.
The hope of getting back into the Premier League automatically has long gone, but the season is not yet over and we now have a good chance of getting to Wembley and going up through the play offs, here we look at who we could meet.
Southampton V Stoke City The Verdict
This should have been a celebratory day for Saints fans, there should have been a feeling of positivity, but the truth is that the fight has been knocked out of the supporter base and we go into the play offs with confidence both on and off the pitch at a low ebb.
Southampton 0 - 1 Stoke City - Player Ratings and Reports
If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report.
Saints V Stoke City A Look Back In Pictures 2
In the second part of our pictorial look back at some of our games against Stoke City from the past, here we look back at more recent games, so most of you would have been at them.
Saints V Stoke City A Look Back In Pictures
We have looked through our photo archives for a look back as some games against Stoke City over the years, what are your memories of these games ?
Southampton V Stoke City The Preview
Saints go into the last two games of the season with their hopes of automatic promotion ended, even the hope of finishing 3rd is only a point away from being ended, but they do have something to play for and that is getting back the togetherness, character & fight Russell Martin has recently be moaned.
No Togetherness No Character No Fight
Not my words, but those of Southampton manager Russell Martin, who should ask himself the question why two months ago we had all those attributes and now we don't !
Southampton At Leicester The Debacle
The big question is how can a side that was so tight at the back, so clinical up front and who could pass the ball around almost with their eyes closed, become the disorganised rabble that they were at the Leicester City this evening.