Russell Martin believes the components required for Swansea City to become serious promotion contenders next season are clearer than ever after they extended their unbeaten run to eight matches.
The Swans fell behind to Middlesbrough as Luke McGree drilled beyond Andy Fisher following a loose pass from Matt Grimes. But they earned a point against Chris Wilder's men thanks to Michael Obafemi's 11th goal of the campaign in what was a frenetic second-half in south Wales.
The fixture came after Flynn Downes said Swansea should target winning the Championship next season given their progress under the current coaching staff. You can read more on that here. And Martin says the Swans have to end the currently campaign strongly to give themselves the best chance of racing out of the blocks next term.
"Momentum helps us in terms of the feeling the players and supporters have for next season," said the head coach. "It helps us in terms of learning what we need. I think we're just becoming clearer and clearer with every game in what we need to improve.
"We'll keep learning and growing. We have so many young men displaying unbelievable courage, especially in possession, and we just need to keep challenging them and each other. I'm really excited about next season already, but I want us to finish really strongly."
And on the 1-1 draw with Boro, Martin commented: "I thought it was a really high level game. The first-half I really liked. We had so much dominance and control. We have to make more of that.
"We had some really good moments and lacked that little bit of composure and quality. The start of the second-half, an uncharacteristic mistake, that's on me. Grimesy has been incredible, so brave.
"I'm grateful to them [players] for the way they reacted and the game came to life I guess. At 1-1 the atmosphere shot up. The game became really open and we wanted to score quickly because we got caught up in the emotion. The game became far too open. It was scary stuff. They had a few too many chances and we'll learn from that."
Who was Swansea's man-of-the-match against Middlesbrough? Have your say in our comments section here.
Both sides had chances to secure all three points, while Andy Fisher produced a vital save in the final minute to deny substitute Aaron Connolly. It was one of a number of stops made by the Swansea goalkeeper in a wild second-half, and Martin lavished praise on the former MK Dons man following his display against Boro.
"Fish when he was called upon, especially the Connolly chance late on, made a really important save," he added. "It's massive for us and that's what he's there to do. Playing in goal for us is not easy.
"He has a brilliant mentality and never looks flustered. At times it's not always going to be the right decision and at times he gets the ball dumped on him when he shouldn't do. That's not on him.
"But he's a goalkeeper first and foremost. He's made some great saves today. He's another young man who is learning and developing in his first experience at this level, so I'm pleased for him to make such big saves."
Swansea return to action against Bournemouth on Tuesday. Kick-off is at 7:45pm.
