Rosler: Clean sheets are a collective effort

A clip of Cairns’ treble save against Northampton Town last weekend went viral around the globe and attracted praise from the likes of Manchester United’s David de Gea.

But, as Town head into today’s game against AFC Wimbledon without having conceded in their opening two league games, Rosler says that is down to the team rather than just Cairns’ efforts.

He said: “I think we have a very good defence and our defence is built on 11 players working very good against the ball.

“That is why we are having a very good defensive record from last October.

“From number one to number 11, position-wise, everyone on the pitch knows their jobs and that is the only reason why we have a good defensive record.”

A 2-0 victory for Town’s development squad against Oldham Athletic on Wednesday gave a number of players the opportunity to impress.

Ashley Nadesan, who replaced Ash Hunter in the matchday squad at Northampton was not involved so he could be on the bench.

Hunter joined Wes Burns up front where both had an assist apiece as Michael Donohue and Jack Sowerby netted.

And Rosler is pleased his first teamers see the chance to play for the development squad as a chance to impress him.

He said: “We had not only two first team strikers out there.

“In addition to that we had Harvey Rodgers, Jack Sowerby, Victor Nirennold; players who are regular first team players, and in general, I think the attitude of everybody in those sort of games over time has been good.

“Credit to Paul Murray (development squad coach), credit to the players; they don’t see that as a punishment, they see an opportunity to keep up their match fitness, their sharpness, they see that as an opportunity to impress.

“For our club it is important that our first team players need to be on board by seeing those games seriously.

“In other clubs they don’t play first team players because they think they are not up for it.

“We need every player who plays those sort of games to be up for it; to make sure they are ready for stepping into the first team.

“That can be against Wimbledon or it could be a week later – I don’t know.

“The attitude of all players who had been there has been very good; over time not only against Oldham.”