Tate Apologises After Red Card

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''I apologised to the gaffer and the lads because I thought that was the only right thing to do,'' Tate said. ''And I want to apologise to the fans as well because I've let people down. ''I don't mean to get sent off, but the way I play I am going to pick up bookings because sometimes you mistime tackles. ''I will get booked throughout my career and I will get sent off again because I'm committed to getting the ball. Nine times out of 10 I'll get the ball, but unfortunately I mistimed two on Saturday and it's cost us.'' Tate picked up his first card for upending Poul Hubertz on the edge of the box after 10 minutes and a second for a challenge on Ryan Smith near the touchline. ''I did catch him on the first one and it probably is a yellow later in the game,'' he added. ''I said to the ref that it was my first tackle of the game but he wouldn't listen, yet Richard Shaw went through the back of Leon Britton at the other end, which is supposed to be an automatic booking, and he got a warning. ''For the second one I barely touched the lad but he went down, the crowd went up and the ref sent me off. ''Maybe they were both fouls, but a bit of common sense would have been nice. He could have just had a chat and told me to settle down.''

Boss Roberto Martinez, however, insists the holiday fixtures will not settle Swansea's season. ''They are two important games,'' he admitted, ''but I still think it will go to the final day. ''We know the players have great character and they can't wait to get out on the pitch again to put Millwall behind them.''

''I think those two games will decide whether we're going to have a chance of getting into the play-offs and I'm gutted to be missing out,'' Tate added. ''We expected to get something at Millwall but it didn't happen at all for us. Now we need to bounce back.''

SOURCE: SOUTH WALES EVENING POST