Rosler: I'll never stop Fleetwood fans dreaming

Town are fourth in League One and two points from an automatic play-off spot, but head coach Rosler said ahead of tomorrow’s home clash with Northampton that the pressure will increase as the season draws to a close.

But the German, who guided Brentford to the League One Play-off final in 2013, says his players should relish the challenge.

Rosler said: “I will never stop fans dreaming because that is their right. Fleetwood Town is their life. They come to games on Saturdays and Tuesdays. They travel with us away from home.

“I have to be realistic. I have to make sure we are performing to the best of our ability and are aware it is a long way until the end of the season.

“The more it comes to the end, the more difficult it will get because the pressure will come. You can’t deny that.

“This year we have nice pressure. Last year was a horrible pressure – to play against relegation. It is about people losing jobs in the club. But this year we have pressure every player and every person at a football club should relish and should not crack.

“That is what we want. That is why we work very hard every day not to be Johnny Average. We are a club who challenge for things in our own realistic way.

“It is a marathon, and every runner will tell you the hardest time in a marathon is when you can see or smell the finish line because the tempo will rise.

“It is about getting over the line and winning. We are heading slowly into that phase of the race and have to be prepared.”

Rosler is keen to get his injured players back to give him more selection options.

Right wing-back Conor McLaughlin was forced off with an ankle injury in last Saturday’s win at MK Dons, while striker Wes Burns (leg) and skipper Nathan Pond (knee) are also doubts.

Midfielders Jimmy Ryan (foot) and Martyn Woolford (knee) are still in the treatment room and Rosler said: “We have to get our injured players back. That is a big thing for me – I would like to have more options.

“At the moment we don’t have enough options but they will come back. It is just a matter of time.”