Leyton Orient goalkeeper Allsop believes side can reach League One play-offs
9:27am Thursday 20th September 2012 in Latest Sport By Simon Mail
Ryan Allsop believes the side are capable of reaching the play-offs: Action Images
Goalkeeper Ryan Allsop insists Leyton Orient are capable of reaching the play-offs this season.
The 20-year-old shot-stopper has made an immediate impression after being pushed into the first team earlier than expected and he has every faith in his new team-mates. The former West Bromwich Albion youngster believes the squad is good enough to challenge for promotion and has set his sights on helping them up the League One table.
Allsop said: “We’ve got to keep working hard and pushing towards the play-offs. We’ve got a great bunch of lads here and I’m confident we can push on. We’re capable of anything. We’ve got a great squad here and as long as we keep performing and digging results out, as we have done here, then we can achieve the play-offs.
“We have to keep clean sheets and keep it solid at the back. Obviously the less we concede the more chance we have of winning so as long as we keep it tight at the back hopefully we can stick a few away up front and the results will come.
“It’s a very tight league and fine margins will win you games and lose you games. That little error or mistake could cost you the game but a bit of luck could win you a game.”
Allsop joined the O’s this summer on a six-month deal after being released by Millwall.
The confident keeper, who had a brief spell with Icelandic club Hottur after leaving the Lions, has been promoted to the side due to the injury problems of Jamie Jones. Allsop is determined to take advantage of his opportunity and is ready to challenge Jones for the number one jersey on a permanent basis.
He said: “I expected to come in and challenge the number one spot. Fortunately for me I got my chance and it’s more than I could ask for so far. Hopefully I can keep it up.
“I’m confident in my own ability but Jamie is a top keeper as well and we’ll both push each other and whoever the gaffer selects, we’ll both support each other.”
Allsop made his debut for the O’s in their Capital One Cup win over Charlton Athletic but he has also started all of their league games since the Crawley Town defeat. The keeper kept back-to-back clean sheets in their wins over Swindon Town and Brentford and has understandably caught the eye of manager Russell Slade.
The O’s boss said: “It’s incredible really. He’s been thrown in there and he wouldn’t be your first choice goalkeeper on paper, but he’s not doing himself any harm, is he?
“His hands have been really good, his kicking has been first class and he continues to develop and make great progress. I’m chuffed to bits that he decided to come here and I think we’ve got a good goalkeeper.”
Speaking after Thursday’s win over the Bees, Allsop said: “There are a few nerves before the game but as soon as you’re playing you get into it and you have to be calm and relaxed. I’m delighted with the two clean sheets and it is a confidence boost. Hopefully we can push on from here and keep a few more this season.
“It was my first ever [league clean sheet] at Swindon so I was delighted with that. I couldn’t really ask for anything more.
“It’s very good working with Ben Chorley and Nathan Clarke in front of me. They’re both experienced players and also Leon McSweeney and Gary Sawyer as well. They all have good experience and they help me along and they’ve been a massive help for me.”
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