Potter: Let's embrace exciting play-off challenge

26th April
First team

Graham Potter wants his Swansea City side to embrace the exciting challenge of trying to keep themselves in the Championship play-off mix against Hull on Saturday (3pm).

The 10th-placed Swans are the lowest-ranked side still able to finish in the top six, lying five points off a play-off spot with three games of the season remaining.

Potter's side host Hull tomorrow, before taking on Derby on Wednesday and travelling to Blackburn on the final day of the season.

The Swans are the outsiders for that final top-six spot but victory over the Tigers - regardless of other results - would keep them in the mix ahead of the midweek Liberty meeting with the Rams.

And Potter knows his squad must take it one step at a time if they are to pull off a remarkable late surge.

"It just shows the Championship is unpredictable and can throw up results. We are very much a big outside chance, while mathematically you have a chance going into the last week you can see why it's a conversation," said the Swans' manager.

"But realistically we have to win all our games and, even then, that might not be enough. 

"Yet, at this stage of the season results and funny things can happen, so we need to just focus on ourselves, focus on the next game against Hull City and try and win that.

"I have not looked at other fixtures because if we do not get our points it does not really matter. 

"It is quite simple, we have to win, focus on our games and if we can that we move onto the next one and try again."

The Swans are seeking a seventh-straight league win in SA1, and Potter wants his players to take the confidence from their improving form and relish the chance to put some pressure on the other sides in the play-off hunt.

"We have improved as the season has gone on, and since the last international break our performances have got better and better and we have taken another step forward," he added.

"It is great for us to still be involved going into the last week, it's great for the players, it's great for the supporters.

"Hopefully there will be a good atmosphere and we can enjoy the challenge because it's really exciting."