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Showing posts with label Leyton Orient. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Leyton Orient. Show all posts
Monday, 3 January 2011
Stewart Lee's mum is an Orient supporter
For fans of Stewart Lee: 41st Best Standup Comedian Ever, in the Leyton Orient store today, I found proof that his mum follows the mighty O's.
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Leyton Orient 4 Colchester United 2
Sometime in the early 90's, I was an 11-year-old mascot for Leyton Orient in an FA Cup replay against Colchester United (I got photos taken with John Sitton, the then captain, and "Ooh" Terry Howard, terrace favourite, and also, incongruously, the autograph of Frank Carson, the comedian, who was a director of Colchester at the time).
Orient won 4-1, I recall, and today they also got four against the same opponents, although they didn't ask me to be mascot this time. It's understandable, I'm probably too old now.
After the 5-0 mauling Brighton dished out to us at the weekend, we needed to bounce back, and I thought Orient gave arguably their best home performance of the season. Coxy found acres of space on the left wing, Chorley was dominant in central defence and showed some clever distribution, and Jones made some good saves, although it could be argued that the two Colchester goals were softly conceded.
Highlight of the match was undoubtedly Paul-Jose Mpoku's 30-yard screamer near the end of the second half - well, it looked like 30 yards from the other end of the ground, anyway. In all honesty, we deserved the win - Colchester played OK and took their chances well, but Orient played the ball around well and created too much pressure and too many openings for the Essex Boys to handle.
Norwich up next for us in the FA Cup on Saturday, and I'm not expecting us to repeat the Colchester score in that match. Hope springs eternal, though.
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Orient won 4-1, I recall, and today they also got four against the same opponents, although they didn't ask me to be mascot this time. It's understandable, I'm probably too old now.
After the 5-0 mauling Brighton dished out to us at the weekend, we needed to bounce back, and I thought Orient gave arguably their best home performance of the season. Coxy found acres of space on the left wing, Chorley was dominant in central defence and showed some clever distribution, and Jones made some good saves, although it could be argued that the two Colchester goals were softly conceded.
Highlight of the match was undoubtedly Paul-Jose Mpoku's 30-yard screamer near the end of the second half - well, it looked like 30 yards from the other end of the ground, anyway. In all honesty, we deserved the win - Colchester played OK and took their chances well, but Orient played the ball around well and created too much pressure and too many openings for the Essex Boys to handle.
Norwich up next for us in the FA Cup on Saturday, and I'm not expecting us to repeat the Colchester score in that match. Hope springs eternal, though.
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Monday, 20 December 2010
Lights on at Temple Of Doom
Speaking of the Olympics, David Cameron has switched on the floodlights for the first time at the Olympic Stadium in Stratford. Or, as it shall become known after whichever of Tottenham or West Ham (or both) take up occupation, the Temple of Doom.
Few people, apart from Barry Hearn, seem to have noticed that there's already a professional football club in the area. To fill a stadium that's nearly three times as large as their own, West Ham will undoubtably have to cut prices, and that could be disastrous for Leyton Orient, as the Hammers will be targeting fans in our own catchment area.
Let's face it, the way things are going, if West Ham move in it's going to be Championship football being played there - hardly the best advert. And Tottenham need to keep their noses out and stay in North London. They didn't like it when Arsenal did it to them, after all.
No, we don't want Spurs or Hammers as next door neighbours, thank you very much.
Few people, apart from Barry Hearn, seem to have noticed that there's already a professional football club in the area. To fill a stadium that's nearly three times as large as their own, West Ham will undoubtably have to cut prices, and that could be disastrous for Leyton Orient, as the Hammers will be targeting fans in our own catchment area.
Let's face it, the way things are going, if West Ham move in it's going to be Championship football being played there - hardly the best advert. And Tottenham need to keep their noses out and stay in North London. They didn't like it when Arsenal did it to them, after all.
No, we don't want Spurs or Hammers as next door neighbours, thank you very much.
Friday, 17 December 2010
Leyton Orient v Plymouth. Postponed
The second home game in succession that has been postponed due to a frozen pitch.
They don't seem to have this problem in Sweden. A few years back, when I first started working on the railway, a fellow new starter told me he used to live in Sweden with his Swedish wife (a tall blonde, apparently, but that's beside the point).
In order to help learn the language and make new friends, he decided to join a local football team. On the first day of training, it was snowing heavily in temperatures of about -5, and he wore shorts and a t-shirt in anticipation of an indoor training session, in view of the obviously unplayable weather conditions.
The Swedes, on the other hand, being used to the snow, wore appropriate attire for playing football in it. It hadn't even occurred to them to bring training inside for a second. He described it as the coldest he had ever been in his life, and was then on known as the "crazy Englishman". Now, if they can do it...
No more home football til Boxing Day.
Incidentally, my girlfriend now thinks that "Plymouth match postponed" is some kind of a tongue-twister.
They don't seem to have this problem in Sweden. A few years back, when I first started working on the railway, a fellow new starter told me he used to live in Sweden with his Swedish wife (a tall blonde, apparently, but that's beside the point).
In order to help learn the language and make new friends, he decided to join a local football team. On the first day of training, it was snowing heavily in temperatures of about -5, and he wore shorts and a t-shirt in anticipation of an indoor training session, in view of the obviously unplayable weather conditions.
The Swedes, on the other hand, being used to the snow, wore appropriate attire for playing football in it. It hadn't even occurred to them to bring training inside for a second. He described it as the coldest he had ever been in his life, and was then on known as the "crazy Englishman". Now, if they can do it...
No more home football til Boxing Day.
Incidentally, my girlfriend now thinks that "Plymouth match postponed" is some kind of a tongue-twister.
Monday, 13 December 2010
Tranmere Rovers 1 Leyton Orient 2
Orient responded to the enforced absence of Forbes and Chorley, our regular centre back pairing, with an important away win over the men from Birkinhead - important because it leaves Tranmere stuck just above the relegation zone, and drags us up to 16th (although still only 2 points off the drop).
Also important was the fact that it was us who took the lead, and defended it in the second half when, according to the match reports, we were under the cosh a little. Plaudits, apparently, to on-loan keeper Jason Brown, who had a good game by all accounts.
On Saturday me and the kids get to go to the Orient for the first time in nearly a month, due to the vagaries of the fixture list and the cancellation of the Carlisle game last week. Get a result against Plymouth and we could be in relative mid-table safety...
Also important was the fact that it was us who took the lead, and defended it in the second half when, according to the match reports, we were under the cosh a little. Plaudits, apparently, to on-loan keeper Jason Brown, who had a good game by all accounts.
On Saturday me and the kids get to go to the Orient for the first time in nearly a month, due to the vagaries of the fixture list and the cancellation of the Carlisle game last week. Get a result against Plymouth and we could be in relative mid-table safety...
Wednesday, 8 December 2010
Leyton Orient 8 (yes, that's "eight") Droylsden 2
Maybe Lisa Kogan was right, maybe miracles do exist after all. What the hell happened here? I didn't go to the game (it's a school night, so I can't take the kids) but I wish I had now.
Almost unbelievably, we were 2-0 down and heading for a giantkilling of sorts when we pulled a goal back through Chorley, Tehoue equalised late on, and both Tehoue and McGleish grabbed hat-tricks in extra time.
Unfortunately, both Chorley and Forbes were sent off, meaning we'll be missing our defensive partnership for at least one match. So I suppose it wasn't a miracle after all.
The best description I saw of the match was on Facebook, where one friend commented:
Almost unbelievably, we were 2-0 down and heading for a giantkilling of sorts when we pulled a goal back through Chorley, Tehoue equalised late on, and both Tehoue and McGleish grabbed hat-tricks in extra time.
Unfortunately, both Chorley and Forbes were sent off, meaning we'll be missing our defensive partnership for at least one match. So I suppose it wasn't a miracle after all.
The best description I saw of the match was on Facebook, where one friend commented:
Norwich, fear us.
Sunday, 5 December 2010
Leyton Orient vs Carlisle United
Postponed due to bad weather, another fixture to join our pile-up that we started by drawing with Droylsden on Monday night. We don't like making things easy for ourselves, do we?
Wednesday, 24 November 2010
Peterborough 2 Leyton Orient 2
Another game, another recovery to draw 2-2. Didn't go to see this one, but from my memory of Peterborough I haven't missed much.
An unusual, Chorley- and McGleish-less team, came from behind twice. Tehoue started this time, but didn't have the impact of recent substitute appearances. More plaudits for Jason Brown in goal - yes, he let in two again, but he kept his nerve to save a penalty late on.
All in all, not a bad result against a team who have a reputation for goalscoring. We're now 19th - it's still tight down there, we need to push on before we get overtaken by those below, or left behind by those above.
An unusual, Chorley- and McGleish-less team, came from behind twice. Tehoue started this time, but didn't have the impact of recent substitute appearances. More plaudits for Jason Brown in goal - yes, he let in two again, but he kept his nerve to save a penalty late on.
All in all, not a bad result against a team who have a reputation for goalscoring. We're now 19th - it's still tight down there, we need to push on before we get overtaken by those below, or left behind by those above.
Peterborough
- 01 Lewis
- 02 Little
- 04 Langmead
- 16 Bennett
- 25 Williams
- 07 Wesolowski
- 21 Davies (Mendez-Laing 90)
- 26 Clayton
- 09 Mclean
- 10 Boyd
- 24 Tomlin
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Sunday, 21 November 2010
Leyton Orient 2 Bournemouth 2
I find it interesting that a 2-2 draw can feel so different depending on how it came to you.
Bournemouth supporters will be kicking themselves after conceding two late goals, and losing a match they were winning comfortably. We, on the other hand, bounced up and down like demented kangaroos upon Jonathan "We Like" Tehoue's late equaliser. Much chanting of "Who Are Ya?" and "East, East, East London" did occur.
In fairness, it was a pretty even match, marred for us by two lapses of concentration at the start of each half which resulted in Bournemouth's two goals. I thought Jason Brown didn't do too badly in goal for his first game of the season - he made a few good stops and generally looked quite confident given his two misses, although blessing the posts before the start clearly didn't work.
He certainly did a lot better than Bournemouth's substitute keeper, who came on for the last 18 minutes following an injury to their number 1, and promptly conceded 2 goals. Cheers, lad.
Russell Slade's bizarre decision to stick Revell (6ft 3in), our top scorer, on the right wing, and Dean Cox (5ft 4in) in the middle, was obviously not working after 20 minutes, so why it took until halftime for him to change things around is beyond me. Mpoku threatened a lot on the left, skinning his man more often than not, but we need a bit more end product from him - his freekicks brought little in the way of chances, and one shot hit the North Stand roof rather than the crossbar.
Congrats to Jonathan Tehoue though - he always makes an impact as a sub, bustling and working like a good centre forward should, and his two goals were tucked away with precise finishing. All in all, a worthwhile point, although better tactics and greater concentration could have provided all three.
Bournemouth supporters will be kicking themselves after conceding two late goals, and losing a match they were winning comfortably. We, on the other hand, bounced up and down like demented kangaroos upon Jonathan "We Like" Tehoue's late equaliser. Much chanting of "Who Are Ya?" and "East, East, East London" did occur.
In fairness, it was a pretty even match, marred for us by two lapses of concentration at the start of each half which resulted in Bournemouth's two goals. I thought Jason Brown didn't do too badly in goal for his first game of the season - he made a few good stops and generally looked quite confident given his two misses, although blessing the posts before the start clearly didn't work.
He certainly did a lot better than Bournemouth's substitute keeper, who came on for the last 18 minutes following an injury to their number 1, and promptly conceded 2 goals. Cheers, lad.
Russell Slade's bizarre decision to stick Revell (6ft 3in), our top scorer, on the right wing, and Dean Cox (5ft 4in) in the middle, was obviously not working after 20 minutes, so why it took until halftime for him to change things around is beyond me. Mpoku threatened a lot on the left, skinning his man more often than not, but we need a bit more end product from him - his freekicks brought little in the way of chances, and one shot hit the North Stand roof rather than the crossbar.
Congrats to Jonathan Tehoue though - he always makes an impact as a sub, bustling and working like a good centre forward should, and his two goals were tucked away with precise finishing. All in all, a worthwhile point, although better tactics and greater concentration could have provided all three.
Leyton Orient
- 32 Brown
- 02 Omozusi
- 04 Chorley (yellow card)
- 06 Forbes
- 07 Cox
- 13 Daniels (Brown 67)
- 16 Spring
- 20 Smith
- 27 M'Poku (Walker 90+4)
- 09 McGleish (Tehoue 61) (yellow card)
- 11 Revell
Goals
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Sunday, 14 November 2010
Bristol Rovers 0 Leyton Orient 3
I was mostly occupied by the England-Australia rugby union match for the duration of this, so I didn't know the score until after the game had finished.
What a result, though! Our first away win of the season - just looking at the stats on BBC Sport, we had 60% possession, 7 shots on goal, while restricting Rovers to just one shot on target. Cox opened the scoring, and Alex Revell bagged two, taking him to seven for the season.
We're now heading into nosebleed territory in 17th position - admittedly, just one point separates 13th and 20th, but get a couple of wins and we're safely mid-table.
What a result, though! Our first away win of the season - just looking at the stats on BBC Sport, we had 60% possession, 7 shots on goal, while restricting Rovers to just one shot on target. Cox opened the scoring, and Alex Revell bagged two, taking him to seven for the season.
We're now heading into nosebleed territory in 17th position - admittedly, just one point separates 13th and 20th, but get a couple of wins and we're safely mid-table.
Bristol Rovers
- 01 Andersen
- 02 Regan (red card)
- 03 Sawyer
- 05 Coles
- 15 Anthony (yellow card)
- 04 Lines
- 07 Campbell (Pell 74)
- 11 Hughes
- 14 Brown (Tunnicliffe 37) (yellow card)
- 09 Akinde (Richard 58)
- 17 Kuffour
Leyton Orient
- 12 Butcher
- 02 Omozusi
- 04 Chorley (yellow card)
- 06 Forbes
- 07 Cox
- 08 Dawson (Whing 40)
- 13 Daniels
- 16 Spring
- 20 Smith
- 27 M'Poku (Walker 67)
- 11 Revell (McGleish 82)
- Cox 20
- Revell 27
- Revell 51
Tuesday, 9 November 2010
Leyton Orient 3 Chelsea 2
Drogba and Lampard put Chelsea into the lead, but goals from Revell, Cox and McGleish secure Orient a stunning victory...?
Ha! In my dreams. But @barafundler posted a link to this video on Twitter, from 1972.
Chelsea weren't as strong then comparatively as they are now, but they weren't that far off - Bonetti, Hollins, Osgood, Webb and Hudson all played, the backbone of the team that had won the FA Cup in 1970.
Maybe the 3rd round of the FA Cup this season could bring about a similar result...?
Ha! In my dreams. But @barafundler posted a link to this video on Twitter, from 1972.
Chelsea weren't as strong then comparatively as they are now, but they weren't that far off - Bonetti, Hollins, Osgood, Webb and Hudson all played, the backbone of the team that had won the FA Cup in 1970.
Maybe the 3rd round of the FA Cup this season could bring about a similar result...?
Sunday, 7 November 2010
Dagenham & Redbridge 1 Leyton Orient 1
In which Alex Revell appears to be turning into some kind of lanky goal machine. Funny, he never seems to be so likely to score when I see him play.
And we let a lead slip yet again, this time just minutes after scoring ourselves. This is getting to be a very tiresome habit.
In the 2nd round, we're away to Droylsden, but more excitingly, AFC Wimbledon and MK Dons will meet in the 2nd round if they get through their replays! At Wimbledon's ground! That's got to be on TV. Ebbsfleet, Stevenage, sorry guys, but for the sake of football, you've got to throw these games.
And we let a lead slip yet again, this time just minutes after scoring ourselves. This is getting to be a very tiresome habit.
In the 2nd round, we're away to Droylsden, but more excitingly, AFC Wimbledon and MK Dons will meet in the 2nd round if they get through their replays! At Wimbledon's ground! That's got to be on TV. Ebbsfleet, Stevenage, sorry guys, but for the sake of football, you've got to throw these games.
Dag & Red
- 30 Lewington
- 05 Antwi
- 06 Arber
- 20 Vindelot
- 03 McCrory
- 07 Green
- 14 Palsson
- 18 Taiwo
- 19 Ogogo
- 09 Nurse
- 16 Savage
- Green 45+2
Leyton Orient
- 12 Butcher
- 02 Omozusi
- 04 Chorley
- 06 Forbes
- 07 Cox
- 08 Dawson
- 13 Daniels
- 16 Spring
- 20 Smith
- 11 Revell
- 18 Tehoue (McGleish 68)
- Revell 45
Wednesday, 3 November 2010
It's not a door when it's a jar
What's an open mind? Is it a good thing?
I've been pondering, beacuse a friend of mine posted a video from some wacky conspiracy nut on Facebook, with the comment "closed minded people, don't even bother.
Now I regard myself as someone with a pretty open mind. At the same time, I'm fairly secure in what I know and what I understand to be true - all life on the planet evolved from a single life form which existed billions of years ago, vaccines provide vital protection for children against disease, Leyton Orient's defence is far too leaky to even hope for a chance of making the League 1 playoffs, that sort of thing.
So I'll listen to arguments that make sense to me, or at least come from a rational perspective. I won't give the time of day, though, to people trying to tell me that the Earth was created by some omniscient being 6,000 years ago. It doesn't fit, it's unnecessary, I don't need to open my mind for it.
If I gave equal time to every argument that is thrown at me, I'd barely have time to think, let alone decide what to believe. There's got to be some kind of filter. For me that filter tends to be words like "God", or "pro-life". Mention those in your argument, and you've just invalidated yourself.
I keep my mind open, but not that open. Just ajar. So I know what to let in, and when to slam the door shut.
I've been pondering, beacuse a friend of mine posted a video from some wacky conspiracy nut on Facebook, with the comment "closed minded people, don't even bother.
Now I regard myself as someone with a pretty open mind. At the same time, I'm fairly secure in what I know and what I understand to be true - all life on the planet evolved from a single life form which existed billions of years ago, vaccines provide vital protection for children against disease, Leyton Orient's defence is far too leaky to even hope for a chance of making the League 1 playoffs, that sort of thing.
So I'll listen to arguments that make sense to me, or at least come from a rational perspective. I won't give the time of day, though, to people trying to tell me that the Earth was created by some omniscient being 6,000 years ago. It doesn't fit, it's unnecessary, I don't need to open my mind for it.
If I gave equal time to every argument that is thrown at me, I'd barely have time to think, let alone decide what to believe. There's got to be some kind of filter. For me that filter tends to be words like "God", or "pro-life". Mention those in your argument, and you've just invalidated yourself.
I keep my mind open, but not that open. Just ajar. So I know what to let in, and when to slam the door shut.
Tuesday, 2 November 2010
Colchester United 3 Leyton Orient 2
And to think Russell Slade thought this was a candidate for our 1st away win of the season.
How do we expect to get anywhere near the middle of the table if we let a 2 goal lead slip? Away from home or not, we can't afford to do that. Our leaky defence is becoming more of a problem.
How do we expect to get anywhere near the middle of the table if we let a 2 goal lead slip? Away from home or not, we can't afford to do that. Our leaky defence is becoming more of a problem.
Saturday, 30 October 2010
Leyton Orient 2 Rochdale 1
Orient climbed to 18th, out of the relegation zone, with a win that really looked beyond them at half-time.
Rochdale played a game of possession football, happy to knock the ball around between each other and wait for openings to present themselves. Orient sat off them far too much, allowing Rochdale time and space, with the result that we spent a lot of time in our own half, watching them pass the ball in defence on the halfway line.
We had little in answer to Rochdale's tactics. McGleish and Chambers were left out, in favour of Jarvis and Smith, neither of whom really contributed all that much. Orient were reduced to hopeful long balls that came to nothing and after going behind just before half-time, we looked devoid of inspiration.
The penalty early in the second half looked like getting us a useful point, though, and I was just thinking that a draw wouldn't be a bad result, when Dawson played a lovely ball into the area for Cox to stroke home the winner.
Although Rochdale piled on the pressure in the last 15 minutes, we held on for the win, Chambers coming on for Cox to shore things up in midfield. All in all, against opponents who looked technically superior, it was a creditable win.
It was nice to see Dawson back, and Cox and Daniels were lively throughout. However, we can't come from behind every match. We've got the players to play a more sophisticated style, we need to gain the confidence to do so without slipping back into our bad old long ball habits.
Goals
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Rochdale played a game of possession football, happy to knock the ball around between each other and wait for openings to present themselves. Orient sat off them far too much, allowing Rochdale time and space, with the result that we spent a lot of time in our own half, watching them pass the ball in defence on the halfway line.
We had little in answer to Rochdale's tactics. McGleish and Chambers were left out, in favour of Jarvis and Smith, neither of whom really contributed all that much. Orient were reduced to hopeful long balls that came to nothing and after going behind just before half-time, we looked devoid of inspiration.
The penalty early in the second half looked like getting us a useful point, though, and I was just thinking that a draw wouldn't be a bad result, when Dawson played a lovely ball into the area for Cox to stroke home the winner.
Although Rochdale piled on the pressure in the last 15 minutes, we held on for the win, Chambers coming on for Cox to shore things up in midfield. All in all, against opponents who looked technically superior, it was a creditable win.
It was nice to see Dawson back, and Cox and Daniels were lively throughout. However, we can't come from behind every match. We've got the players to play a more sophisticated style, we need to gain the confidence to do so without slipping back into our bad old long ball habits.
Leyton Orient
- 12 Butcher
- 02 Omozusi
- 04 Chorley
- 06 Forbes (yellow card)
- 07 Cox (Chambers 79)
- 08 Dawson
- 13 Daniels
- 16 Spring
- 20 Smith
- 11 Revell (Tehoue 90+5)
- 14 Jarvis (Walker 59)
Substitutes
- 01 Jones,
- 03 Whing,
- 05 Brown,
- 19 Mike,
- 10 Chambers,
- 18 Tehoue,
- 25 Walker
Rochdale
Substitutes
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Sunday, 24 October 2010
Orient draw Daggers in FA Cup
And news just in, Orient have drawn Dagenham & Redbridge in the 1st round of the FA Cup, to be played at Victoria Road, scene of probably our most dismal performance so far this season.
Omens on our side? Well, we've beaten the Daggers in both our FA Cup meetings, including that spectacular 5-4 victory in 1992. And Dagenham are currently bottom of League 1, meaning they've got even more incentive than we have to lose the match and "concentrate on the league", as the saying goes.
Swindon Town 2 Leyton Orient 2
Um, disappointing?
Not necessarily in terms of the result - a 2-2 draw away ain't to be sniffed at. I'm more annoyed that we took the lead twice, and lost it on both occasions. It shows a lack of concentration in the team, and we can't afford slip-ups like that.
I'm writing having yet to see any of the goals, but I'm pleased Matt Spring got on the scoresheet. We don't get many players with true vision down at the Orient, and he's an integral part of the team.
Also, pleased to note that Mpoku started the match after his stunning intervention from the subs bench last week against Hartlepool, and that Cox started as well, as I suggested in last week's post. Clearly Russell Slade's taking notes from me. And I've just noticed that Orient have extended Mpoku's loan from Spurs, which is also excellent news.
Just need that 20-goal-a-season striker now...
Leyton Orient
Not necessarily in terms of the result - a 2-2 draw away ain't to be sniffed at. I'm more annoyed that we took the lead twice, and lost it on both occasions. It shows a lack of concentration in the team, and we can't afford slip-ups like that.
I'm writing having yet to see any of the goals, but I'm pleased Matt Spring got on the scoresheet. We don't get many players with true vision down at the Orient, and he's an integral part of the team.
Also, pleased to note that Mpoku started the match after his stunning intervention from the subs bench last week against Hartlepool, and that Cox started as well, as I suggested in last week's post. Clearly Russell Slade's taking notes from me. And I've just noticed that Orient have extended Mpoku's loan from Spurs, which is also excellent news.
Just need that 20-goal-a-season striker now...
Swindon
- 01 Lucas
- 02 Cuthbert
- 06 Caddis
- 14 Morrison
- 15 Amankwaah (O'Brien 69)
- 21 Sheehan (red card)
- 07 McGovern
- 08 Ferry
- 22 Ritchie (Dossevi 85)
- 16 Ball (Rose 58)
- 32 Austin
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- 12 Butcher
- 02 Omozusi
- 04 Chorley (yellow card)
- 06 Forbes
- 07 Cox
- 10 Chambers
- 13 Daniels
- 16 Spring (yellow card)
- 20 Smith
- 27 M'Poku (Revell 17)
- 09 McGleish (Walker 90+4)
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Saturday, 16 October 2010
Leyton Orient 1 Hartlepool United 0
That was a game of two halves if ever I saw one. At half-time Iwas coontemplateing the worst match I'd seen this season - no creativity, no invention, very few chances, against a Hartlepool team who didn't exactly look to be trying too hard to set the game on fire. But on the introduction of Tehoue and Mpoku early in the second half, Orient looked the more likely to win, and eventually scored from Tehoue's lashed-in shot from about 3 yards out in the last minute of normal time.
I thought Orient missed Dawson's drive and tenacity in midfield - we never seemed to threaten anything from that area, lots of poor touches, especially from Coxy (most unusual) and Omozusi. Chorley took over as captain, which looks like it's encouraged him to believe he's Franz Beckenbauer, as shown by his new-found tendnecy to go on long, loping runs forward with the ball. Apart from that, he was easily our best player in the first half, heading away all balls into the box, and generally being his usual solid self. Lee Butcher also acquitted himself well, in the absence of Jamie Jones.
The dismal first half looked like giving way to a dismal second half, until Mpoku came on and immediately began turning the Hartlepool right-back inside out, and whipping balls into the box on a regular basis. After a few mazy dribbles, they put two men on him, a sign that they couldn't cope with his twists and turns, and eventually resorted to some cynical fouling, giving away a couple of freekicks in dangerous positions.
Even Mpoku's freekick on the right, where he somehow slipped over while striking the ball, still resulted in the corner fromwhich Tehoue scored. All in all, he could do no wrong, and would have thoroughly desrved the man of the match award, even though he was only on the pitch for less than half the game.
Maybe Orient could benefit from a twin attack of Mpoku on the left and Cox on the right - we could certainly use a presence on the right, we never seem to threaten from that side of the pitch. Can't argue with 1-0 though, these were opponents we should always expect to beat.
I thought Orient missed Dawson's drive and tenacity in midfield - we never seemed to threaten anything from that area, lots of poor touches, especially from Coxy (most unusual) and Omozusi. Chorley took over as captain, which looks like it's encouraged him to believe he's Franz Beckenbauer, as shown by his new-found tendnecy to go on long, loping runs forward with the ball. Apart from that, he was easily our best player in the first half, heading away all balls into the box, and generally being his usual solid self. Lee Butcher also acquitted himself well, in the absence of Jamie Jones.
The dismal first half looked like giving way to a dismal second half, until Mpoku came on and immediately began turning the Hartlepool right-back inside out, and whipping balls into the box on a regular basis. After a few mazy dribbles, they put two men on him, a sign that they couldn't cope with his twists and turns, and eventually resorted to some cynical fouling, giving away a couple of freekicks in dangerous positions.
Even Mpoku's freekick on the right, where he somehow slipped over while striking the ball, still resulted in the corner fromwhich Tehoue scored. All in all, he could do no wrong, and would have thoroughly desrved the man of the match award, even though he was only on the pitch for less than half the game.
Maybe Orient could benefit from a twin attack of Mpoku on the left and Cox on the right - we could certainly use a presence on the right, we never seem to threaten from that side of the pitch. Can't argue with 1-0 though, these were opponents we should always expect to beat.
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