Tottenham loan star criticised by manager for error in costly £9m defeat

Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Josh Keeley endured a nightmare end to his loan spell at League One side Leyton Orient as he featured in between the sticks during the League One play-off final.

The 22-year-old has earned plaudits for his performances across 45 appearances for the club. Keeley has gone from hero to zero in the play-off matches, having helped the O’s to a place at Wembley Stadium via penalty shootout heroics against Stockport County earlier this month.

The goalkeeper will return to Spurs this summer with his contract at the North London club set to run until 2027. Keeley has been praised by O’s manager Richie Wellens and Ange Postecoglou for his progress this season.

Tottenham Hotspur star praised for loan spell

Speaking in January after an FA Cup win, Wellens said: "His reputation is growing all the time. I'm a big believer that goalkeepers, it's not making great saves from penalties, it's about having the character about you to believe you can save it. Josh has got that personality and that swagger.

"The fact that he comes up and keeps us in the competition with that header is the extreme, but the kid has got a lot of character and will go far in the game."

In December, Postecoglou had said: “Josh, he worked with us last year and with Burchy and it’s important with the young guys and with the goalkeepers, to get them eventually some game time.

“I think the loans worked out really well. He’s gone there, he’s worked his way into the team and he’s doing really well. He’s goalkeeping well. I don’t know how excited I get about goalkeepers scoring headers, mate. It’s great and great for him, I’m sure, but it’s not kind of the attributes I’m looking for in a goalkeeper.

“But the point is, he is doing well. You go into a loan club, especially as a goalkeeper, young goalkeeper, and you have to earn the trust of the manager to end up being the number one. The fact that he has and he’s doing well it’s good. It’s what we want to see from our loan guys.”

Josh Keeley makes League One play-off final error

Keeley’s time at Leyton Orient will go down as a great success but it did end on a sour note against Charlton Athletic. The Addicks scored just one goal to win that play-off final at Wembley Stadium, a Macaulay Gillesphey free kick from distance beating Keeley.

The defender’s striker did not wind up in the corner and Keeley managed to get a hand to the attempt, but was not strong enough to push it away. Former Charlton Athletic midfielder Paul Mortimer said: “Josh Keeley should be doing better, the keeper has got both hands to it. He hasn't moved his feet quick enough.”

It could be a costly mistake too. Should that free-kick have been kept away and Orient won the match, they would have earned promotion to the Championship. According to the BBC, a team rising from League One to the second tier gets a financial boost of £9 million.

While Keeley has held the backing of Wellens this season, the Leyton Orient boss did criticise the fact the free kick was not stopped when speaking to the press after full time. He said: “A free kick went in that probably shouldn’t have gone in. I think if you score from there it should go in the top corner, not in the middle of the net. Wall position, goalkeeper... everyone makes mistakes. We had enough time at the start to start better and enough time to pull it round.”

In other news, What Charlton Athletic star did after play-off win amid Millwall and Blackburn Rovers transfer links.