Planet Swans ArchivesIf the Swans can secure all three points then they will make a return to the Championship – a level they left in 1984 just after the 'Glory years'
But it now just stands as a maximum haul between them and that level although today's likely midfield pairing are in no mood to settle for just that – they want the league title to prove that they were the best team in this division this season.
Speaking on the eve of the game, Darren Pratley and Leon Britton made it perfectly clear that while they may be celebrating come 5pm today, they will continue to press until such stage that the league title is safely in the hands of Swansea City
“I’ve always thought we were the best team in this league,” Pratley told the Western Mail. “We still have to prove it by winning the title though.
“We dominated Carlisle and showed how good we are. They didn’t play much football and it was more route one than anything.
“Maybe they changed their style because they were playing against us. But, either way, we were the better team.”
Britton concurred, “Tuesday showed we deserve to be top of this league. It was a big game, but we were the better team, especially in the second half.
“The performance showed we deserved to be above them. Over the two games we have played against them, we have certainly been the better team.
“We targeted promotion this weekend and then hopefully the title will follow in the next few games,” he said.
“I’m sure we will enjoy securing promotion. But we want to be champions.
“I think the football we play is Championship quality,” Pratley said. “Hopefully we can prove that next year.
“We don’t want to be a team that comes straight back down. We want to play against better teams and test ourselves.
“It’s been a long season and we have been in for training a lot more than last season. That has benefited us as a team and we are a lot fitter and stronger.
“Because of that I don’t think there is anyone better in this league at playing the way we play. Doncaster play good football, but that’s it.”
“We don’t just want to get promoted,” Britton added. “We want to win the title.
“When you have been top of the league since November it would be a big shame to lose it right at the end.
“With four games left the last thing we want to do is let it slip away.
“Promotion comes first, then we want to win the league. Having been there for so long, we’ve earned it.
“I think it’s fair to say we deserve promotion. Any team that can still be top of the league after 42 games does.
“But we haven’t got the league title yet. We are close, but there are still four games to go and anything could happen.
“We’ve just got to be professional and go about our job today.
“Hopefully we will then get the three points.
“It’s going to a tough game,” he admitted. “In the last few years Gillingham have really been a bogey team for us.
“We’ve always played poorly there and lost convincingly. On a personal level I always seem to get dragged off after about an hour so it’s certainly not one of my favourite grounds.
“They are fighting against relegation so it’s going to be difficult. But, if we are professional and maintain our high standards, hopefully it will be a happier hunting ground for us.”
He added, “It probably won’t be pretty out there. But to get promoted you have to be able to dig in and grind out results.
“And we’re confident we can win today. We are confident of getting three points in every game we play.
“Hopefully we will perform well and get the three points we need. If we can do that, it will be a great day for everyone at this club.”
