Orient goalkeeper Ryan Allsop (right) who pulled off a string of fine saves as the O's beat Brentford in their last game

Orient keeper Allsop targets another clean sheet

By Trevor Davies, Leyton Orient correspondent Tuesday, September 18, 2012
4:06 PM

Youngster insists that O’s can finish in the top six

Orient entertain Yeovil tonight with young keeper Ryan Allsop looking to keep his third successive clean sheet.

Back-to-back 1-0 victories have lifted Orient into 16th place and the former Millwall goalkeeper believes the club can continue their climb up the table and has predicted that a top-six finish is an obtainable target.

“We have got to keep working hard and pushing towards the play-offs,” insisted Allsop

“I’m confident we can do it. We have got a great bunch of lads here and I’m sure we can push on. We are capable of everything, as long as we keep performing and digging out results as we did against Brentford, we can achieve the play-offs.”

If O’s are to mount a serious challenge, they will need to keep plenty more clean sheets in the months ahead and any success will have to be built on a solid defensive base.

“We have to keep clean sheets and keep it solid at the back,” acknowledged Allsop.

“The less we concede the more chance we have got of winning. So as long as we keep it tight at the back and stick a few away up front the results will come.”

League One is shaping up to be a tight division this season and the 20-year-old keeper, who joined the club on a short-term contract from Millwall in the summer, admitted: “It’s definitely a very tight league and fine margins will win you games or lose you games.

“That little error or little mistake will cost you a game, or a little bit of luck will win you a game.”

Allsop looks set for an extended run with Jamie Jones likely to be out for at least another month with a shoulder injury. “I expected to come in and challenge for the number one spot,” said Allsop.

“Fortunately for me I got my chance and it’s more than I could have asked.”

And will he be able to hang on to the jersey when Jones is fit?

“I’m confident in my own ability, but Jamie is a top keeper as well and we will both push each other and whoever the gaffer selects, we will support each other,” he said.