FC Halifax Town: “All we can do is train hard and bounce back” says Allen ahead of Ebbsfleet clash

The Shaymen were dreadful as they lost 2-0 at The Shay last weekend, but have a chance to put that right at home to strugglers Ebbsfleet live on BT Sport.

“We weren’t good enough, we know that,” Allen said. “We weren’t at the races and we made it difficult for ourselves, but we’ve just got to bounce back.

“You know you’re going to get games like that, we’re not going to go from now until the end of the season playing brilliant and picking up wins.

“We’re expecting games like that, but all we can do now is train hard and bounce back.

“We know we’re in a good position, it’s in our own hands. Obviously we believe we can get there, and we’ll keep believing.

“But it’s important not to get carried away.”

Allen insists there is no talk of the play-offs in the changing room.

“I think we’ve just got to take each game as they come, we can’t start getting carried away with the play-offs,” he said.

“We’ve just got to try and keep picking up points, and at the end of it, see where we are.

“We know we’re in a good position but we can’t get carried away because we could easily slip out of it.”

Allen reckons the togetherness in the Town camp is the biggest factor in their unexpected play-off push.

“In the changing room after the Woking, all of us knew it wasn’t good enough,” he said. “But we’ve just got to pick ourselves up.

“I don’t think anybody could have expected us to be where we are (at the start of the season), and the main reason for that is how together we are.

“It’s a brilliant changing room, simple as that. We all want to do well for each other, not just for ourselves.

“Ask any of the top teams who are up there, any manager, and the first thing they’ll say is the dressing room’s got to be good.

“Managers sign players that are good in the dressing room, so we’re lucky to have that, and that’s definitely why we’re up there.”

The former Dover man has been playing through the middle for Town in recent weeks having been used primarily as a winger over the first-half of the season.

“I played there when I was younger. I can play as a winger as well,” he said.

“I’ve not been playing for a few games so coming back into the game, I felt it a bit fitness-wise.

“But that’s expected, especially on a heavy pitch. We’re all in it together, and we’re all going to fight for each other.

“I don’t really have a preference. It’s good I can play up there or on the wing.

“But as long as I’m getting minutes, I don’t care. I’ll play anywhere the gaffer puts me and I’ll try my best.”

When asked how he rated his season so far at The Shay, Allen said: “We’re in a fantastic position, it’s a team game, and if the team wins, I win individually.
“Now I’m playing up-front, you want to score goals, but if the team’s winning, that’s the main thing.

“It’s important to get a decent run of games, get that match sharpness. When you come out and then come back in, you do feel it.

“So a run of games is important. But if the gaffer thinks I’m the best player for that position in that game, then brilliant. If not, then I’ve got to wait for my chance.”

Allen doesn’t feel the Town fans have seen the best of his this season though.

“No, I don’t think they have to be honest. I feel like I’ve definitely got more to give.”