Ryan Allsop admits Birmingham City’s ‘crazy’ schedule is taking its toll
Ryan Allsop was speaking after keeping another clean sheet for Birmingham City in their 0-0 draw with Blackpool on Sunday
Ryan Allsop is full of admiration for his outfield teammates for battling through the Christmas blitz of fixtures and keeping Birmingham City on top of League One.
Blues are in the midst of a cycle of five matches in 13 days due to their meeting with Crawley being played on December 23, as opposed to December 21, for TV purposes. They have taken seven points from a possible nine and have two away days at Stockport and Wigan this week.
Allsop had a watching brief against Crawley and Burton Albion, both of whom failed to register a shot on target against Blues, but the goalkeeper produced two fine stops against Blackpool to thwart Kyle Joseph and Ashley Fletcher to keep another clean sheet.
“It’s crazy,” Allsop said of Blues’ congested Christmas. “The physicality it takes for the outfield boys to go and implement our style of play is so taxing on the body.
“We made a lot of changes and we have done over the course (of Christmas). It shows how difficult it is, not only from a physical point of view, but the mental fatigue to carry out instructions to the standard we’ve shown is difficult.”
Allsop has proved to be a reliable last line of defence since replacing Bailey Peacock-Farrell between the sticks in early October. The 32-year-old has kept clean sheets in his last four matches and 11 in his 19 appearances this season.
“I’m really pleased,” Allsop reflected. “Being a goalkeeper I want clean sheets and the boys in front of me have been magnificent. It’s not just the back four, we’re very good at defending from the front. The front players set our press off so well and nullify teams.
“The lads coming in and out the back four have protected me really well and I’m really pleased to be playing a part in it as well.”