Town defender Cian Bolger has applauded his side’s collective effort as they overcame a tricky FA Cup tie at Hereford FC with a 2-0 win on Thursday night.
The Irish defender scored both goals for the Cod Army - both from George Glendon corners – to set up a third round match against Leicester City.
Bolger says he is pleased with his two goals, but just as happy with the way the team defended on a tricky surface at Edgar Street.
“Obviously I’m pleased to have scored from a set piece.
“I scored a few last season but I’ve been getting a bit of stick this season.
“The clean sheet is the most important thing because when we keep clean sheets we go on to win most games,” the defender said.
Bolger has acknowledged that Fleetwood have fallen foul of poor defending on several occasions this season, but says Thursday night’s clean sheet is something the club can build on after hard work on the training field.
“Defensively, if you look back at the goals we’ve been conceding they have been individual errors.
“It’s always pleasing to get your rewards from the training ground and I think we have got a lot of success from it in the last season or so.
“We have been putting a lot of hours into it now and it is starting to pay off, so hopefully we can chip in with a few more.”
Despite the gulf in league positions between Fleetwood and their non-league counterparts, The Bulls made it tough for Town, particularly in the second half, but Bolger suggests the first half effort from his side was enough to win the game.
“We got there in the end. In the first half I think we were pretty comfortable, but in the second I think we played into their hands a little bit.
“The ball didn’t seem to stick up front for us and we were camped in our own half for a little bit. But, we dealt with it.”
A near sell-out crowd on Thursday night had the potential to cause problems for Uwe Rosler’s side, and Bolger recognises the importance of early goals to change the complexion of the game.
“The big thing we spoke about before the game was coming here and silencing the crowd. Obviously the early goal did us a big favour.”
Attention now turns to the next league game – Peterborough United on Sunday – and Bolger says the team’s focus must firmly be on that game and not the next round tie against Leicester.
“We are going into the busy Christmas period now.
“Momentum is a big factor in football and hopefully we can carry this on into the busy period of fixtures coming up, and start pushing up the table.
“Leicester are the former Premier League champions and a massive team, but we have to embrace the tie and go into it believing we can get something.
“That game is a long way away now. We have Peterborough on Sunday next and that is our main focus, and the league is our focus, so we’ll think about that game when it’s time."