Alex Cairns: Solid defence gives Fleetwood a platform to beat Doncaster

Cairns’ hometown club head to Highbury after winning nine of their last 10 in League One, while Town by contrast are without a victory in nine.

Fleetwood have conceded only one goal in the four games since keeper Cairns was recalled. However, that is one more than they have scored.

New boss Simon Grayson found no immediate solution in his first game in charge against Bristol Rovers on Saturday – the 0-0 draw leaving Town with one goal from six league games.

But Cairns insists their tighter defence gives the team the right platform to resolve their goalscoring problems.

The 28-year-old said: “We have a good record against Doncaster but it counts for nothing, especially in this league.

“We have to give a good account of ourselves, defend like we did on Saturday and hopefully stick one in the goal. It would be nice to keep another clean sheet and get the win.

“Doncaster are full of confidence, knocking off wins and playing really well, so we have to enjoy that challenge and step up to it.

“We have a good group of lads who are looking forward to playing against the teams who are up there challenging because we know we should be up there too.”

It was a frustrating first half to the season for Cairns, who was out of favour under former boss Joey Barton before a bout of coronavirus.

Barton recently expressed his view that the team had lost faith in Cairns, but the Yorkshireman has again reclaimed the jersey ahead of Joel Coleman, who is available after injury.

Cairns never lost belief in his own ability and added: “I know what I bring to the team. I bring a voice and as a back line we work on keeping clean sheets, which only breeds confidence. We just need to try to get that goal now.

“With the squad we have we all know we should be higher up the table and I think everyone in that changing room things that.

“So far this season it’s been up and down and now we have another manager, another clean sheet to build on and now we just need the goals to go with it.

“We’d all like to know why the goals aren’t going in because we are creating chances.

“Their keeper (Rovers’ Cardiff loanee Joe Day) made a great save on Saturday. The little fine margins just aren’t dropping for us in front of goal but it will come because we’re working hard on the training ground every day. We just need one to fall for us.

“The good thing is defensively we’re solid and that’s not just me or the back lads – that’s the whole team. If we keep it up I’ve no doubt goals will come thick and fast.”

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