Post Match Reaction vs Barnsley

We couldn't have lost yesterday in a more dissapointing way as penalty misses from Akinfenwa and Tate meant Barnsley won promotion to the Championship.

The defeat seems to have spurred the team on next season to avoid more pain in the play-offs and to go up automatically.

Kenny Jackett was proud of his player's performance and said:

'It is a bitter disappointment as the prize is so big, particularly when you consider we had more shots, more chances and more of the play. I felt we were the better and stronger team, but maybe it just wasn't our day.

'But congratulations to Andy Ritchie and Barnsley, I wish them all the best, but we looked the stronger side in my opinion and it is an opportunity missed.'

'It's an opportunity missed, but I'm proud of my players because I thought it was a fantastic performance.

'Now we've got to pick ourselves up and use this feeling to make sure that we come back stronger next year. That's what it's all about - and I know we will.

'We didn't win, but that's gone now and congratulations must go to Andy Ritchie and Barnsley. I wish them all the best.''

His opposite number Andy Ritchie said:

'I feel for Kenny because it is a long hard season and it is not easy to come here and lose, I'm sure it would be terrible. But he will be back next season as he has a good squad at Swansea.

'The first half was probably even, but in the second half we were under the cosh a bit.

'Towards the end I was getting a bit worried because of the injuries we had. But I am proud as punch with all the players, they deserve it as they put all the hard work in.

'As a manager this is the pinnacle achievement up to now, but hopefully there will be more. I am just proud of the club and all the players.''

Alan Tate's penalty was saved which won the game for the Tykes but after the game he said yesterday's defeat will make us stronger next year.

'What doesn't kill you makes you stronger,'

'The hurt we feel is only going to make us stronger and push us on for automatic promotion so we won't be in the play-offs again.

'We'll be very determined and fired up. We'll probably have some new faces that will help kick us on into the top two.'

'I should have hit the target. It just wouldn't sit down for me in time,'

'I'd seen a few Barnsley defenders flying in before then so I had to take it early, but I should be hitting the target from there.'

'We were the better team by a mile,'

'We've had 30 shots to their six. You can only plan to play well on the day and hopefully you win, but they've had a few breaks.

'We didn't defend their second goal as well as we should. It was a poor wall and Nadiello only had to pass it in.

'You should be defending set-pieces better than that and ultimately it's cost us going to penalties.'

'It's just one of them things. Nearly every player has missed a penalty,' he said.

'People say it takes guts to step up to take one, but I was big enough to take one against Walsall and big enough to take one against Barnsley.

'I scored against Walsall, but missed against Barnsley. It happens.'

I have mixed feelings about next season in League One. Either we'll be stronger and more consistent throughout the year and go up automatically or the expectation and pressure will be too much for the players and we'll fail to even reach the play-offs.

Tranmere, Bristol City and Nottingham Forest were expected to win promotion and they were far from showing any signs of meeting those expectations.

I think we have the right foundations there and with the experience we know have, I'm sure the players won't want to go through all that pain again by missing out on what could have been.

C'MON THE SWANS!

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