European ‘miracle’ with Carrick Rangers would be a career high: Curtis Allen

Stuart King’s warriors finished in seventh place in the Sports Direct Premiership, earning a Europa Conference League Play-Off Semi-Final at Crusaders on Wednesday night.

While Glentoran and Coleraine clash in the other Semi-Final at the BetMcLean Oval, Crusaders will be favourites to win at Seaview but they will face opponents who are brimming with confidence after securing the club’s best-ever finish.

Stephen Baxter’s men thumped Carrick 9-0 at Seaview earlier this season and before he departs the north Belfast club, the world’s longest serving manager could have another European campaign to prepare for.

But Carrick are riding the crest of a wave and will arrive on the Shore Road with another box of tricks at the end of a magical campaign.

“If Carrick qualified for Europe it would be right up there with what I have achieved,” said former Linfield and Glentoran frontman Allen.

“There is no pressure on us in these games. The other teams have been down this road before and have the finances and know-how.

“We will roll the dice and hope for the best. If Carrick could do it, and some sort of miracle happened, then it would be up there with my achievements in my career.

“You must recognise where the club is at and its ambitions and expectations.

“I joined the club to play games and enjoy my football. You want to help the club rebuild but I wasn’t thinking about Europe.

“Winning can become a habit and you can change your targets. You just never know in football, we have exceeded expectations and Crusaders, who have already beaten us 9-0 at Seaview, will expect to beat us again and say well done Carrick.

“We had a hard start to the league and the Crues defeat was tough but those results can happen — it also happened to Cliftonville against Larne. You move on and one game doesn’t define your season.

“This is not a revenge story — Crusaders are a good side but this is like an FA Cup tie where the underdog hopes to triumph against a bigger club.

“We are on a good run and confident, but we know the task is a difficult one.

“With a bit of luck, we could make the Final.”

Experienced striker Allen, who was on target against Glenavon on Saturday, has an impressive goalscoring record in Play-Off clashes and hopes that trend continues on Wednesday night.

“I’ve played in quite a few Play-Off games and scored in all the games I’ve been involved in but have never won the Final,” he said.

“At Glentoran we played Cliftonville three years in a row and I scored in all three Semi-Finals and Finals but the Reds beat us in all three.

“Some people don’t appreciate the Play-Offs but if the opportunity is not there what are the bottom six teams going to fight for after the split?

“There’s not much movement otherwise. This season a few times were challenging for seventh place and at the weekend Dungannon Swifts still had the chance to sneak it.

“It gives clubs something to play for and makes it more interesting for the supporters. The players want to play in meaningful games and this is a route to Europe.

“Carrick qualifying for Europe would have been laughed at a year ago. Smaller clubs have an opportunity now this is massive for the club.

“I felt at the start of the season we just wanted to improve on and off the pitch. The challenge gets harder every year but we are moving in the right direction.

“We have achieved the most points and wins which is fantastic. It comes down to hard work from everyone at the club and we need to enjoy it.”

Crues chief Baxter knows his side will be tested by a confident and hungry opponent.

“They’re a good side, they’ve had some fabulous results this year and beaten a lot of the top teams,” he said.

“So nothing’s going to be handed to you. Nothing is easy.

“There’s no time for me to sit back and be sentimental. We need to knuckle down, work hard and get on with the game in hand and try and find our way into a Final if we can.”