Town boss thrilled as Bolger passes a test of character

Cian Bolger played for Town despite having a chest infection

Rosler stressed that, under normal circumstances, Bolger would not have featured in Saturday’s 0-0 draw with AFC Wimbledon.

In the last week, the Irishman has faced Bolton Wanderers, scored the winner at Walsall and helped ensure Town picked up their 12th clean sheet in 21 matches despite being under the weather.

Rosler believes his side has been punished more than most in the injury department this term with Pond, Devante Cole, Wes Burns, Jimmy Ryan, Martyn Woolford and now substitute keeper Chris Neal all in the treatment room.

But Rosler did say that midfielder Kyle Dempsey is fine after he was brought off as he hailed Bolger’s character for playing through illness.

And, with eight games to go, Rosler says one defeat in 21 is not too shabby.

He said: “We are not only short at the top of the pitch but also in defence.

“Cian Bolger, under normal circumstances, would have not played the game.

“He has a chest infection, he is on antibiotics; that speaks volumes of a player who put themselves in there and he could not do any better whatsoever.

“I’m so happy he played the game and I think it is absolutely vital that he played to get that clean sheet. Under normal circumstances he would not have played.

“We miss Pondy in those sort of games like this one and Bolton but he is not far away.

“Obviously, both ends of the pitch, we are missing a little at the moment but we have to cope with it,

“Every team over the season has injuries; we are a little more punished this season than most of our competitors but we are still staying in there.

“Twenty-one games and only one loss – it is not too bad!”

Rosler says it was a fair point with Town now two wins away from his 74-point target.

And he says everyone should be happy about the club’s current position compared to where they were this time last year.

He said: “We didn’t have enough to win the game but we got another clean sheet, a vital point

“In the end we take what we get; I think third in the league, 68 points, I think everybody should be happy about it – even the two muppets behind my bench who need a little point of realisation.”