Melbourne Victory striker Danny Allsopp is confident his side can still make their mark on the current Hyundai A-League season.
Melbourne Victory striker Danny Allsopp is confident his side can still make their mark on the current Hyundai A-League season.
Allsopp had his best game of the campaign on Saturday night when he played a pivotal role in Victory’s 2-1 win over Newcastle Jets at AAMI Park.
The win put Victory up into sixth spot on the A-League table and Allsopp says there is plenty to play for when new coach Jim Magilton takes over in the next week.
“It’s not too late as we can put a good run together,” he said.
“I don’t think there’s anyone we should be scared of and hopefully this is the start tonight.”
The 33-year-old started on the pitch for just the fourth time this season against the Jets in a slightly tweaked 4-2-3-1 system that saw him play wide out on the right under caretaker coach Kevin Muscat.
That formation seemed to suit Allsopp as he put Sung-Hwan Byun under pressure when the Jets defender opened the scoring with an own goal, while the Victory veteran also provided front man Archie Thompson with a bevy of teasing crosses throughout the 90 minutes.
“I like playing that type of role as I think some of it is playing to my strengths,” Allsopp said.
“It has been frustrating sitting on the sidelines a lot, but it is your job to prepare and be ready for this sort of opportunity.”
“I think I was a little bit rusty at times, but it was good to get a run out tonight and I gave everything I had.”
Muscat was proud with the performance of his players against the Jets, particularly after the tough week the club had endured.
“It’s been a tough couple of days, an emotional couple of days, but the nature of our business is you have to pick yourself up and I thought that’s what the boys did tonight,” Muscat said.
“I thought we were threatening right throughout the night, the first half especially.”
“We had a game plan with Harry (Kewell) and Danny (Allsopp) coming off and inside Archie (Thompson) and for long periods of that first half … I don’t think the Jets coped with it.”
