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It Will Be A Miracle If We Get Into Top Six

Roberto Martinez believes that it could be seen as a miracle should his side end the season in the top six

The Swansea City manager continues the race for the play offs this week with home games against Plymouth on Tuesday and Crystal Palace on Saturday with the Swans handily poised just outside the Championship play off zone.

Victory in both games would surely lift them into the top six for the first time this season by which time there will be just eight games left.

Tipped by many for a relegation fight this season, you could always argue that a Top 10 finish would be some achievement but there remains a real feeling in South West Wales that the season could extend past the first weekend in May.

Roberto said "Nobody outside this club expected us to be in this position.

"If we get into the top six it will be a miracle.   We have no right to be where we are.  Everything has been stacked against us but we are still in with a shout of the play offs.

"We should be proud of our achievement.  It's not about proving people wrong - it's about the players, staff and club making progress and bettering themselves.

"Considering we had no experience at this level, it was always going to be a massive task.  We were written off before the start of the season but I never doubted we would come good once we found our feet.

"When you have confidence and belief it helps.  And as a team ouyr pattern of play has improved no end.  The progress has been outstanding.

"We have had cruel luck.   You can lose one or two players to long term injuries but we have lost six and seven.  Every side would struggle with that number but we've taken it on our stride.

"The players who have come in have settled straight into the system and maintained our pattern of play.   Everyone here is pulling together that's why we are still in the hunt.

"You don't need money to be successful but of course it helps.   And most of the clubs at this level have bigger budgets.

"Yet I don't envy the other managers or think the grass is greener elsewhere.  I'd say that hard work, dedication and determination can offset that.   I'm not setting a points target.  The only target I was looking at was 51 points for safety and we reached that last month.  We are in a position now to have a shot and see how far we can go."

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