Fleetwood Town goalkeeper Alex Cairns spoke to the media following his return to the side as the Cod Army drew 0-0 with Bristol Rovers in the last game of the calendar year at Highbury.
Fleetwood dominated for the majority of the game, creating far more chances than the visitors but couldn’t find the one goal needed to take all three points. Ched Evans had the ball in the back of the net but saw it disallowed for offside.
A clean sheet and an assured performance from the defence and Cairns - on his return to the starting eleven - meant the points were shared at Highbury.
Cairns spoke to the media after the game, and here are his best quotes:
On the game…
“I thought we were resilient all the way throughout. I never thought that we looked like conceding – that’s a credit to the whole team. We defended as well as we attacked, and I think during the course of the game we were the only team that looked like winning it.
“Throughout the whole game, the communication with the back 5 or back three was key. For me, I’ve played plenty of games to know exactly how games go and I knew it would be one of those games because Bristol Rovers are a great side.
“It’s one of those games where it would only take one chance, and it’s not quite happened today for us. At the end of the day, we’ve got a clean sheet and that’s something to build off.”
On finishing our chances…
“The front lads that we’ve got and the midfielders – we’ve got plenty of creativity, and I think you saw that today. We constantly kept knocking on the door and fair play to Bristol [Rovers], they came and dug out the point. I thought we deserved to win the game but at the end of the day, you take a point – another point on the board and a clean sheet, always nice!
“Sometimes you do need a little bit of luck. Sometimes you’ve got to respect the opposition. They’ve come here to keep a clean sheet as well as we have. Like I said, we kept knocking on the door and fair play to them we didn’t score today but I’m pretty sure in the games coming we will be scoring goals.”
On the disallowed goal…
“I’ve gone off celebrating as have all the lads because we thought it was a goal. Obviously the refereeand the linesman disagreed. I’m not quite sure what went off – I’m at the other end of the pitch.
“Obviously, it’s disappointed that it didn’t go for us but at the end of the day, as I say, we still looked like the team, even after that bit of controversy, that would go on and win it.”
On the game against Sunderland…
“After this game I think even after the last few games, and the way that the squad is shaping up and everyone looks hungry, everyone looks ready for what’s to come.
“I think Sunderland, like you say, is another game – they’re trying to get in the mix as are we. Bring it on!”