Goalkeeper speaks after the recent home win against Brighton
Having been thrust into the fold in recent weeks, Andy Lonergan admitted that he is loving every moment between the sticks as Wanderers extended their unbeaten run to eight with the recent victory over Brighton.
With Adam Bogdan sidelined through injury, the 29-year-old goalkeeper has featured in the Whites’ past two games, keeping consecutive clean sheets.
Although delighted at his own pleasing performances in the net, Lonergan revealed that he is simply happy to do his job.
“It’s nothing I’ve not experienced before – I’ve played probably nearly 300 times at this level,” he explained following the 1-0 victory over Brighton. “It’s just another Saturday’s work. I’ve not played for a while but hopefully I can stay in.
“At this level you can get through games with your experience which is what I’ve found the last two games.
“There can be situations where just because they’re having 15 corners, you don’t have to come and catch every one.
“You come and get the balls you can and you let the lads in front of you deal with the balls you can’t, and I thought they were fantastic again today.
“Especially with the run we’re on, you don’t want to let the lads down but hopefully I’ve done alright for them and we’ll be able to get a third clean sheet in a row next week.”
With Bolton restricting the visitors to a handful of chances throughout the game, Lonergan believes that the Whites were worthy winners on the day against a side he is convinced rivals the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool in terms of their ability.
“We probably had clearer chances I’d say – we had one cleared off the line and a few in the first half, and Brighton never really had any clear chances but they had a lot of pressure and we took it well.
“In those sort of games, the longer it goes on the more you think you could be called upon – you think that something could happen and you need to be ready, but luckily I didn’t really have anything to do at the end.
“We did really well – they’re a really good team. I don’t know if you can appreciate it sat in the stands but when you’re on the pitch, for me personally it felt like playing a Premier League team, so fair play to them.”
Having only joined the club last summer following his move from Leeds United, the Preston-born keeper paid tribute to his teammates after the side’s fifth win on the bounce and claimed that the togetherness of the squad is crucial to their success.
“When I came here what struck me was how nice and friendly a dressing room it was. There is not one ego and that is fantastic.
“You just don’t get that anywhere. This is a great squad and the wins will bring us closer together I’m sure.”