Josh Keeley backs Leyton Orient to secure shock promotion

Josh Keeley has admitted no one at Leyton Orient expected to make the Sky Bet League One play-offs earlier this season, but has backed them to pull off a shock promotion at Wembley.

Orient were languishing in the relegation zone after nine defeats from their opening 16 fixtures before they embarked on a remarkable run of 11 victories from their next 15 matches.

An added-time leveller by goalkeeper Keeley in an FA Cup tie at home to Oldham in November proved a sliding doors moment for Richie Wellens’ side, who still nearly missed out following a run of defeats in March before five consecutive wins earned them sixth spot and a two-legged semi-final showdown with Stockport.

“Around late November time is when we started going on that run, but before that the gaffer was just saying keep doing the right things and stuff will go our way. Play-offs wasn’t really talked about at all,” Tottenham loanee Keeley told the PA news agency.

“I think it was either the game before (Oldham) or the meeting right before that he said we need that spark, we need something to boost us and our season.

“And yeah I came up and got the equaliser in the last minute. I think something like that is so rare that the whole team kind of just buzzed off it and we went on the run we did. Things went on from there and here we are now.

“The sixth-placed (team), a lot of people don’t like playing them and the run of form we’ve been on, not even just the last couple of weeks but the whole season, it’s definitely one that a lot of people are probably fearful of.”

Given the spending power of Birmingham and Wrexham – in addition to the presence of ex-Premier League clubs Charlton, Reading and Bolton – Orient were never tipped for promotion, but Keeley can now dream of Wembley.

Saturday’s home fixture with Stockport is first on the agenda before a return meeting on Wednesday and yet the 21-year-old is full of belief a club on the brink of liquidation in 2017 can go all the way.

Keeley added: “It would be amazing to get to Wembley, but at the end of the day I would want to go there and win. I don’t want to go there and take in the stadium. That’s not what it is about.

“Promotion would be amazing. It is a great, great club and since the minute I walked through the door people are so respectful. I have a lot of time for the people here running the club.”

A string of dazzling displays by Keeley, who has 16 clean sheets in 36 league fixtures, has contributed towards a memorable campaign for Orient and the ambitious Republic of Ireland Under-21 international has a dream scenario in mind for next season.

“Obviously I aspire to be the number one at Tottenham but I still have got a way to go,” Keeley reflected.

“Championship next season maybe (with Orient), yeah if we got promoted it would be great.”