Russell Martin thrilled for youngster as he sees what Swansea City need to challenge for promotion

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.

Swansea City player ratings as Fisher makes vital interventions and Downes impressive against Middlesbrough

"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