Planet Swans ArchivesThe Swans have looked all set to make cup ties at two of the biggest grounds in the country over the course of the last two months but have missed out on both to lower league opposition – Havant & Waterlooville in the FA Cup and MK Dons in the Johnstones Paint Trophy. But with a 12 point advantage at the top of League One and only fourteen games left to play, Pratley is aware that the biggest prize is yet to come and all eyes are now focused on returning to the second tier of English football for the first time since 1984.
And if that happens then the impressive midfielder believes that everyone will have forgotten the two cup defeats as promotion is celebrated for the second time in four seasons.
Talking to the Evening Post, Pratley said “We wanted to go to Wembley
“You don’t get many chances to play there in your career and it would have been a great day out for the club.
“After giving away one sloppy goal in the first leg, we got to within a penalty shoot-out of getting there.
“But it’s gone now. Wembley’s over and we have to concentrate on our game at Huddersfield on Saturday.
“The league’s the real business for us this season and I’m sure we’ll bounce back.”
There is optimism that the team could bounce back as impressively as they did after the Havant defeat – a home win over Port Vale and Crewe was followed by a 4-0 demolition of Doncaster. The defeat at MK Dons will see the Swans playing Millwall and Tranmere at home after the game at the Galpharm
“It’s strange in a way because we didn’t actually lose the game at MK Dons, we won 1-0 away from home,” Pratley added.
“But we’re out of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy and we definitely want the same sort of response we got after losing in the FA Cup.”
