Graham Potter has suggested Swansea City are simply not good enough to entertain thoughts of a promotion back to the Premier League this season.
The Swans manager saw his team held to a 1-1 draw at lowly Preston to leave them six points adrift on the Championship play-offs.
Back in the lower half of the table, and with little sign that any significant new players are going to be recruited in this transfer window, it appears Potter has settled for consolidation.
The club are currently 14 points above the relegation zone and Potter admitted: “We are some way off being a top-six side still and we need to keep improving.
“We gave the ball away too easily and did not do enough to score more than one. There are some good teams in this division.”
The Swans were frustrated despite the home side playing the final nine minutes with ten men after a red card for Josh Earl.
Potter’s side went in level at the break after being frustrated by several good saves by North End keeper Declan Rudd.
They had hit the front ten minutes into the second half when Courtney Baker-Richardson rifled home after Wayne Routledge picked him out.
But the Swans were pegged back just five minutes later when Daniel Johnson kept his nerve from the penalty spot following a handball by Connor Roberts.
And they were left thanking keeper Erwin Mulder for a brilliant double save 15 minutes from time which ensured a share of the spoils.
“We scored a really good goal and started the second half really well and had control of the game. But when you concede it changes the game and they had a spell where it became scrappy and then it favoured them,” added Potter.
“You need to survive key moments and be a bit more clinical. Sometimes you need luck at times and maybe we did not get that today.”
Preston manager Alex Neil said: “Overall I think a point was a fair result. It was a bit of a stuffy game.
“I thought the sending-off was extremely harsh. I don’t think either were clear bookings, the second one especially so. We didn’t even think it was a foul, so we are disappointed with the decision.
“We did not have the right balance in the first half and needed to change it. We were better in the second half.
“We are still looking for players, we want to try and finish the window with as strong a squad as possible and so never say never.”