Tate aiming for Newcastle scalp

Coca Cola Championship
Venue: St James' Park Date: Saturday, 28 November 2009 Kick-off: 1500 GMT
Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 live, BBC Radio Wales SW FM, Final Score & highlights on The Football League Show

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Alan Tate joined Swansea initially on loan from Manchester United in 2002

Alan Tate says he hopes Newcastle win promotion back to the Premier League - after Swansea take three points from them at St James' Park on Saturday.

And Sunderland fan Tate believes the rest of the Championship will be looking over their shoulders if the Swans can pull off a result.

"I think they will win the league but hopefully we can go up there and put a little dent in them," he said.

"I know they should be a Premier League club but why cant we go there and win?"

Saturday's game sees the Championship's two meanest defences come together.

Leaders Newcastle have conceded just 10 goals in 17 league games, while fourth-place Swansea have shipped 12.

But the Magpies have not had a problem scoring goals either with 26 compared to Swansea's 15.

While those statistics go in Newcastle's favour, it is the Swans who are unbeaten in 11.

Swansea City manager Paulo Sousa

"We are all excited," said 27-year-old Tate. "They are a massive club, and are probably the Man Utd of our league.

"They have the biggest stadium, biggest fan base and are the biggest club.

"They are top of the league on merit and deserve to be there.

"Everyone wants to go there and win and show how good they are and we are no different.

"We want a good performance and to come away with three points."

Paulo Sousa's Swansea have fared well against teams above them in recent weeks, which has helped lift them up to their highest league position for 26 years.

They beat then-leaders West Bromich Albion 1-0 at the Hawthorns before turning over arch-rivals 3-2 Cardiff at home. Now they face a Newcastle side who are unbeaten at home and have not let off-the-field problems affect matters on the pitch.

606: DEBATE I am over the moon that the dapper-looking Sousa has proved to the Swansea faithful and myself that he is the step up from Roberto Martinez Who needs Roberto, we've got Sousa

But Tate, who could stand in again as captain as Garry Monk is still struggling with a calf injury, says the Swans should not be judged on Saturday's result.

"Regardless of the result it won't change our ambitions," he added.

"It's only one game and we can't have a kneejerk reaction to any result. Judge us over the course of the season.

"But if we could pull of a result then everyone would be looking over their shoulders at us."

While being a self-confessed Sunderland fan, Tate says he will not use it as extra motivation against his north-east rivals.

"I grew up a Sunderland fan, they are the enemy and you grow up wanting them to get beat," he said.

Swansea City midfielder Joe Allen

"But things have changed now I've moved away from home, and although I still support Sunderland I can't say I want them to lose anymore.

"I wanted them to stay up last year and I wanted Middlesbrough to stay up because although I'm not living in the North-East it is good for the area if those two are in the Premier League.

"I hope Newcastle and Swansea go up and if Middlesbrough can do it via the play-offs then great."