Category: Football

Leyton Orient looking good in League One

Leyton Orient’s victory over Chesterfield today has put them a whole 7 points clear of the relegation zone and, given the other favourable results, I would even venture to say that for the first time this season I’m feeling like we’re getting safe.

Other signification results include:

It would have been nice if Gillingham had lost instead of beating Crewe but you can’t have everything. Maybe a draw at Northampton v Bournemouth would have been the ideal result as it would have moved us above both of them, but it’s arguable that it would have been a better result.

Although the win doesn’t move the O’s any further up the table it does put us well clear of the relegation zone and five points ahead of Bournemouth who are right behind in 19th place.

The League One table

Chesterfield 0-1 Leyton Orient

Ling praises ‘workmanlike’ Orient

Leyton Orient 3-1 Tranmere Rovers

Leyton Orient 3-1 Tranmere Rovers

A little under two weeks since one of Orient’s worst performances ever against Brighton, they looked like a different side in a total mauling of Tranmere Rovers.

There were so many goal opportunities that the 3-1 scoreline is actually quite flattering for Tranmere. Two very good early chances went amiss before Justin Miller’s relatively tame shot somehow found its way through the crowd to make it 1-0. The second and third goals showed real quality, though, with Alexander making an excellent run into the area to cross for new on-loan striker Ryan Jarvis for the second. Tranmere pulled one back with a relatively soft goal and the fans were starting to fear the worse, but soon after Lockwood played in Jarvis again for an easy finish.

The second half brought more chances with both Jarvis and Alexander both missing chances in front of a virtually open goal. Still, the signs are good for the pair working together and Orient appear to have a true striker to replace Lee Steele in the poacher role.

The win takes Orient clear of the relegation zone, although some of the teams below do have a game in hand. Still, the six points picked up over the past week are very useful indeed and the momentum and the league position are both as good as they’ve been all season.

Leyton Orient 3-1 Tranmere Rovers on BBC Sport

Match report on Leyton Orient Mad

Ling thrilled with Orient victory

Football quotes of the week

These footballing quotes on the BBC site are pretty good. Starting with Arsene Wenger:

“When you’re dealing with someone who only has a pair of underpants on, if you take his underpants off, he has nothing left – he’s naked. You’re better off trying to find him a pair of trousers to complement him rather than change him.”

Football quotes of the week

Leyton Orient 1-1 Carlisle

Leyton Orient 1-1 Carlisle

Some dogged scrapping brought Orient back from a goal down against fellow promotees Carlisle in a match that was high on excitement if low on quality.

The first goal came quickly and the fans were already dreading a thrashing along the lines of the 4-1 defeat by Brighton the previous Tuesday, and defensive wobbles and a lack of eagerness to win the ball didn’t help reassure us.

But still, the team struggled on and although Carlisle were consistently the strong it was probably the home side who had more chances to steal the points. The strike from Lockwood which brought the equaliser was pure class, with Lockie’s left foot hooked over the ball to power it through the crowd and inside the far post. Matthew Lockwood must now surely be one of the highest scoring left-backs in any league.

The team still looked low on confidence, though, and were barely fighting for balls that were anywhere near 50/50. Somehow there was a blue shirt first to tbe ball every time, which was also a feature of last year’s promotion campaign (despite the successes) and would have to be pointed at as the source of our downfall if Orient are relegated this season.

There were some bright spots: Adam Chambers played as well as ever and was probably the most competitive player in the side, and Alexander was also working to win balls. The new striker Ryan Jarvis showed a sharpness that we’re rarely had in strikers.

The result was relatively positive, given the 9 goals conceded in the previous two matches, but there will need to be improvement if Orient are to climb back out of the relegation zone. Hanging onto a draw against mid-table sides at home is certainly a bad omen for the remainder of the season.

The BBC’s Match write-up of Leyton Orient 1-1 Carlisle

Leyton Orient 1-4 Brighton

Leyton Orient 1-4 Brighton

Possibly the worst performance I’ve seen from Orient resulted in a home thrashing against a club that haven’t even been doing particularly well themselves in League One this season.

The situation obviously wasn’t helped by injury as there were no strikers on the bench and a fairly makeshift defence (with Thelwell at right back, and very uncomfortable with it).

Play was fairly balanced for the majority of the first half and although Brighton had the edge there was still everything to play for when we went into half time having only just conceded the first goal. Whatever Martin Ling said to the players, however, really didn’t work as from then on the goals looked to be coming thick and fast. At 3-0 down it was more a case of preventing a thrashing as bad as the 5-0 by Bournemouth the week before. It was only when a couple of the younger players were brought on that a bit of life was breathed into the squad with Demetriou and Barnard both playing to impress, and managing to do so.

But for most of the game Orient didn’t look like they were in the same league, let alone only 3 points behind. The highlight has to be when Alexander had to be taken off so centre back John Mackie was thrown up front.

A very poor performance all round.

Leyton Orient 1-4 Brighton on the BBC website

Ling upset as Orient beaten again