Football Analyst

Jay Simpson’s injury time equaliser snatched a point for Leyton Orient away at Stevenage yesterday. Simpson who became the first Orient player to strike 20 league goals since Peter Kitchen in 1978, opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Fraser Franks had handled his initial effort just after the hour mark.

The game then burst into life in a 4 minute spell which saw Stevenage turn the game on its head. Second half substitute Armand Gnanduillet equalised when he headed home Tom Pett’s right wing cross before slotting the hosts ahead 4 minutes later after latching onto Ben Kennedy’s through ball.

Orient looked to have thrown away their lead but were thankful to Simpson once more. Simpson was played in on the edge of the box and calmly slotted high into the Stevenage net to save Orient once more.

Stevenage manager Teddy Sheringham was enforced into one change from the side that lost 3-1 at home to Dagenham last Monday. Lee Cox was unavailable due to injury so Rohdell Gordon started at right midfield.

Sheringham former West Ham colleague Ian Hendon also made only one change with Jean-Yves M’Voto out with a groin injury, Fraser Shaw filled in at left back while Cole Kpekawa partnering Connor Essam at center half.

With the rain and windy pummeling the Lamex Stadium, both teams were struggling to adjust to the tricky conditions. However the first incident of the game came when Bradley Pritchard was hauled down on the edge of the box, O’s players appealed for a penalty but referee waved away the away side’s appeals.

Conditions were worsening and both sides were cancelling each other out with free flowing football out of the question. Blair Turgott looked lively for the away side but could only flick Jobi McAnuff’s cross straight at Stevenage keeper Chris Day.

Stevenage were looking to find striker Jamille Matt when going forward, the big striker looked to get Gordon and McFadzean involved on the wings. Matt did go close but could only head Gordon’s right wing cross wide of the far post. Orient did go close themselves but Cole Kpekawa could only curl a free kick over from distance.

Orient manager Ian Hendon called for a solid defensive display before the game but once more defensive errors cropped up for the away side. Following a Jobi McAnuff header back, Cole Kpekawa failed to control the ball, Jamille Matt latched onto the ball but his fierce shot was beaten out by O’s keeper Alex Cisak.

Orient could have taken the lead just after the half hour mark, the lively Turgott picked the ball up on the edge of the box. His fierce shot could only be parried by Chris Day to the advancing Jay Simpson. Simpson shifted the ball on to his right foot but his goal bound shot hit Ronnie Henry on the line and bounced to safety for the hosts.

The O’s were struggling to win the second ball in the midfield with Stevenage dominating in the midfield battles. Those defensive mistakes never seemed to vanish for Orient and Cole Kpekawa’s poor back pass was nearly picked up by Matt but Alex Cisak did well to bail out his defender early in the second half.

The second half had a quicker pace than the first and Orient had an opportunity to go ahead just before the hour mark. Jay Simpson collected the ball on the edge of the box, his shot was apparently handballed by Stevenage defender Fraser Franks. Referee Darren Deadman pointed to the spot, Simpson stepped up and calmly slotted home for his 19th of the season.

After Orient took the lead, Hendon’s men decided to sit deeper to absorb the Stevenage pressure. Stevenage really should have leveled on 65 minutes but Jamie McCombe could only head Ben Kennedy’s corner over the bar. Sheringham brought on Kennedy and Armand Gnanduillet in the search for an equaliser. It provided an instant impact with the French striker causing Orient problems in defense.

Gnanduillet did level for Stevenage with 15 minutes remaining when he headed in Tom Pett’s cross. Pett collected the ball in the middle of midfield, his run took him past O’s midfielder Jack Payne and defender Fraser Shaw. His cross was pin point to the head of Gnanduillet who had drifted between Kpekawa and Essam to head home.

Orient’s defence never looked assured throughout the game and 4 minutes later it crumbled once more as Gnanduillet grabbed his second of the game. Ben Kennedy ,who had made a difference to the hosts after his introduction, chipped the ball over the Orient back line. Gnanduillet ran on past the non-existent defense and had the simple task of slotting home to put Stevenage ahead.

Hendon threw on John Marquis and new loan signing Calaum Jahraldo-Martin  who had joined on loan from Hull City this week. Orient put three men up front but struggled to create the equaliser. Jahraldo-Martin looked impressive on his debut but his cross from the left was headed wide by Marquis. However, who else to bail out Orient than Jay Simpson. Once more, Simpson was played the ball on the edge of the box, he let the ball come across him and slotted the ball beyond Chris Day into the net to snatch his side a point.

It could have been even better for the away side in stoppage time, after Simpson’s leveller, Orient threw everything at Stevenage in search of a winner. Balls were fired into the box but the final chance of the game fell to Ollie Palmer but the O’s striker could only tamely hit his shot at Chris Day.

Orient moved up to 8th, 2 points outside the playoffs but have played 3 more games than 7th placed Accrington. Stevenage remain in 19th.

Well, new year, same problems and thank God for Jay Simpson. Where would Leyton Orient be without Simpson this year. 20 leagues goals in 25 league matches is some record but surely the floating poachers are ready to take a punt on Simpson. Simpson has netted 50% of Orient goals this season, 4 of Orient’s last 6 goals and 8 of Orient’s last 10 goals on their travels. 

• If you take Simpson’s goals out of Orient, they would sit 19th on 22 points from 25 games, 5 points from the relegation places

It is clear at the moment it doesn’t matter what defence is named, the problems and mistakes are there. Well we all know where the problems are for Orient this season, 1 clean sheet in the last 20 league matches, is all that need to be said. Both goals yesterday were poorly defensively especially the second one, a free run on goal and a cool finish. It doesn’t matter who we are playing, Orient look so susceptible to conceding goals, that’s now 35 goals conceded in the league this season, after 25 games last season Orient had conceded 37 goals.

• Orient have only 1 clean sheet on their last 20 away games in all competitions

Hendon knows where the problems are but I think any onlooker could see them yesterday. He is surely under pressure at the helm now. Since the victory over Staines in the FA Cup first round, Orient have 2 wins in 11 matches, we all know he is building this season but given the performances in those games, is it the beginning of the end?

Yesterday and in the last few weeks, Orient’s midfield has been out fought, losing second balls and getting beaten too easily. Yes we have players out in Sammy Moore and Lloyd James but is there a ball winner in that team? I am a big fan of Jack Payne, but does Payne play better in a midfield trio? Most people criticized the diamond in the early part of the season however having Moore and Pritchard in front of what was Lloyd James worked. Will a change of system prove better for Orient?

Simpson’s equaliser saved Hendon from even more chants of “Hendon Out” which still could be heard despite the draw at Stevenage. The tactics can be questioned but the thread bare squad does not help, but who’s faults is that? A 2 week break where Hendon stated he will be talking to the president about bringing in bodies, the question is how many? Competition for places is surely key for players to get some form, Fraser Shaw faced that with several left backs brought in, could the same happen for the rest of the side?

Exeter up next, the side that ended the straight 5 leagues wins at the start of the season. Paul Tisdale tactically outdid Hendon at St James Park, Orient know what they are facing but can they prevent another game where they will inevitably conceded? We will find out in 13 days time…

Leyton Orient manager Ian Hendon is hoping his side have the perfect start to 2016 tomorrow as they travel to Stevenage. The O’s lost 2-1 away to Bristol Rovers last Monday but Hendon knows that his side are still in the mix at the turn of the year.

• Orient have lost  4 of their last 5 opening fixtures in January, their only win came in 2012, in a 1-0 win at Stevenage
• 22 of Orient 36 points have come against sides in the bottom half of the league
• However all 3 defeats to teams in bottom half came away from home

Orient sit just a point outside the play off places but their inconsistent form could prove troublesome in the second half of the season. Hendon spoke to leytonorient.com earlier today “we are still in the mix and a couple of wins would make things look a lot rosier, we aren’t far off”. Hendon’s men have picked up 4 points from a possible 9 in their festive fixtures but the Orient boss knows that “games are played on fine margins”

• League Record – P24 W9 D9 L6 F38 A33
• Away Record – P12 W3 D5 L4 F16 A20
• Form in last 8 games – W2 D4 L2
• Only have 1 win in their last 10 away league matches and 1 win in their last 12 in all competition on their travels

Midfielder Jack Payne was left frustrated after his sides defeat in Bristol and knows Orient have to learn lessons quick if they are to challenge this season. Payne spoke to leytonorient.com “it was much of the same, give away sloppy goals, make it too hard for ourselves to get back into games. We have to learn pretty quick otherwise we will fall too far away from chasing pack and play offs”.

• All 5 of Orient’s draw away from home have been 1-1
• Only failed to score in 2 league matches and scored in their last 8 league matches
• In 18 of their 24 league matches, both teams have scored
• Have scored 2 or more goals in 10 games but have only netted 2 or more in 2 of their last 11 matches

With Orient’s fixture with Newport County next weekend rearranged due to the Welsh’s club progression in the FA Cup, a win will help Orient before the 2 week window without a game. Payne understands that effort doesn’t always mean points on the board, “the effort was there in the 2nd half but it doesn’t count for anything if you don’t get any points, it doesn’t really matter how well you play, we need to get points on the table”.

• Orient have only scored 5 goals in the second half of away matches, 4 of those came in the opening 5 away games of the season
• 13 of the 20 goals conceded by Orient have been in the last 15 minutes of both halves, including 8 between minutes 31-45, no team in the league has conceded more in that period

On loan QPR defender Cole Kpekawa is enjoying life in E10 and was more than happy to extend his loan from his parent club. Kpekawa has played 6 time for the Orient since his move but knows that Orient need to win games if they want to go up. Speaking to leytonorient.com ahead of the trip to Stevenage, “we need to go on a run and start winning games”.

• Only Carlisle (37) and Cambridge (34) have conceded more goals in the top half of the table than Orient (33)
• Jay Simpson has netted 18 league goals this season, the most in the top 4 English Leagues
• Simpson has netted Orient’s last 3 on their travels and averages 1 goal every 110 minutes

Cole understands that his side need to improve defensively quickly, “both goals were soft and we have got to do better than that, we have been working on the pitch today”. A major problem has been Orient’s inability to prevent the opposition scoring, something that Cole highlights himself, “if you want to do well in the league, you have to keep clean sheets, we are not doing that right now. We have to keep clean sheets and cut out the soft goals”.

• Orient have only kept 4 clean sheets in their 24 league matches
• Only kept 1 in their last 19 league matches, without a clean sheet in last 8 league matches
• Kept only 1 clean sheet in 15 away matches this season and kept only 1 in their last 19 away matches in all competitions 

Tomorrow’s clash with Stevenage pits West Ham colleagues Ian Hendon and Teddy Sheringham against once another. Cole acknowledges that it is a great match “to go and get 3 points, we want to get on a run in the new year, a few 3 points and cut out the draws” Cole added “we want to stay around it, that’s the plan, Orient should be higher than League 2″

• Orient have opened the scoring in 7 of their away games, including 5 times in the opening 15 minutes of matches, no team has done that more than Orient
• Orient have taken 27 of their 36 points when they have scored first including 11 of their 14 away points
• The O’s have drew the last 3 games they have scored first
• Orient have not won in the last 10 games they have conceded first away from home and lost 10 of the last 16 conceding first

Stevenage head into tomorrow’s clash on the back of back to back defeats against Crawley and Dagenham & Redbridge over Christmas. Manager Teddy Sheringham’s side had picked up after a tough start to the season and were unbeaten in 6 league matches prior to the 2 defeats. Borough sit in 19th position but acknowledge a few wins will see them comfortably sitting in mid table.

• League Record- P24 W6 D8 L10 F32  A43
• Only York (46) and Dagenham (44) have conceded more in league than Stevenage
• Home Record – P12 W4 D3 L5  F14 A16
• Form in last 8 league matches – W3 D3 L2
• Last 5 at home (most recent first) – LDWDW

Sheringham stated after the 3-1 defeat to Dagenham “I think they have let themselves down”. Speaking to stevenagefc.com “we started the game very well again, had chances and didn’t take them. We looked shaky at the back which cost us goals and put us out of the game”. Sheringham knows that this isn’t a one off from his side in recent weeks, “it has happened before, we’ve had good possession, chances and play but not taking your chances is a problem for us. It puts pressure on you without a doubt”

• Kept only 2 clean sheets in league, both at home but have only 1 in last 10 home matches
• Failed to score in 6 matches, 4 of them at home but scored in their last 3 home matches
• Scored in 6 of their last 7 games in all competitions

Stevenage did pull the score back to 2-1 but once more “crappy defending again let them them in for a third and the killer blow” stated Sheringham. The Stevenage manager joined in the summer after leaving his role as a coach with West Ham but is loving every minute of his time in Hertfordshire. Speaking pre match to stevenagefc.com yesterday “it is a little bit different to what I was expecting but loving every minute. I am really enjoying it and can’t wait to come in every day, it is a fantastic place to work”.

• Stevenage have taken 14 of their 26 points against sides in top half of the table
• Have conceded 30 of their 43 goals in the second half (70%), including 14 in the final 15 minutes of matches, no team has conceded more in that period
• Stevenage have only scored twice in the final 30 minutes of home matches

Sheringham understands that it took time for his side to gel at the start of the season but stated “we have seen improvement in the latter part of the first half of the season, it is still work in progress and as long as we keep improving I’ll be happy”.

• Stevenage would sit 9th on 34 points if games lasted 60 minutes
• 5 of their 6 wins have been by 1 goal
• 3 of their 5 home defeats have been by 2 or more goals

The Stevenage boss knows that nothing can be taken for granted in League 2 football, “we got ourselves in a position that before those 2 games, you would like to think you can get 6 points but it is football and it doesn’t work like that”. Sheringham added “if you are not focused and applying yourself 100% you will fall down as a team, you all need to perform if you are to get a result”.

• 17 of their 24 league matches, both teams have scored
• Only scored 1st in 5 of their home matches, 4 of them have been in the first 15 minutes of games
• Stevenage have taken 17 points from possible 27 when scoring first including 13 from 15 at home
• Record conceded 1st – W1 D5 L8  at home – D1 L5
• Stevenage have only won 1 of their last 17 home league matches when they have conceded first

The Hertfordshire outfit lost 3-0 to Leyton Orient earlier in the season and Sheringham knows that “we had a very good game with them earlier in the season, it was even for 75 minutes and it could have gone either way”. Sheringham faces out friend Ian Hendon once more “we don’t want teams doing the double over us so we’ve got a home game, a fixture with someone that I know about and we have played them already. There should be any surprises”.

• Stevenage have only won 1 of their last 4 opening fixtures in January (3-2 FA Cup win at Donny in 2014)

Team News

Stevenage are set to be without 12 first team players who are all out injured after Jerome Okimo had surgery this week. Dean Wells, Adam Marriott, Jesse Joronen, Chris Whelpdale, Steven Schumacher and David McAllister look all set to be out. While Dean Parrett, Jack Jebb and Connor Ogilive are all give a chance to face Orient tomorrow.

Chairman Phil Wallace commented to stevenagefc.com on the injuries to his side “I have been here 16 years and I don’t remember ever having 12 first team players unavailable. Most are from muscle tears – we have looked carefully at every injury but there is no consistent pattern, other than bad luck”

Leyton Orient are set to be without Dean Cox, Paul McCallum and Sammy Moore who all remain sidelined with injury. Mathieu Baudry will serve the second game of his suspension after his red card against Portsmouth while Jean-Yves M’Voto is a doubt with a groin injury. Lloyd James will now be missing for around 6-8 weeks with an achilles problem picked up in training this week.

• Orient have failed to name unchanged side or the same back 4 in their last 6 league matches

O’s manager Ian Hendon commented on the test his side face tomorrow “they are a big strong side and as always we will be expecting a tough game. We want to get this new year off to a good start but so will Stevenage so it is all about who performs better on the day”

Head to Head – Stevenage 3, Draw 1, Leyton Orient 5

Last Meeting – 18/08/15 – Leyton Orient 3-0 Stevenage

• Orient have won the last two meetings between sides and 4 of the last 5 meetings, keeping 4 clean sheets
• In the 7 league meetings between the sides, there has only been 9 goals scored, in none of the those games have both teams scored
• Orient have won all 3 of their league trips to the Lamex Stadium, with the score 1-0

Prediction – Stevenage 1-2 Leyton Orient

Another Game and yet more chaos in the Orient defense as the East London Club fell to a 2-1 defeat to Bristol Rovers yesterday. Rory Gaffney opened the scoring after 31 minutes following what could only be described as Sunday League defending. Orient struggled to create in attack but equalised through that man again Jay Simpson, who is surely the hottest prospect in the football league currently.

Both sides pushed for a second and Gaffney obliged with a brilliant left foot volley which went in off the post to restore Rovers lead. Orient tried to push forward but continued to look susceptible in defense. Gaffney nearly completed his hat trick but his header was saved by Alex Cisak before substitute Matty Taylor also had an effort blocked but Rovers held on to leave Orient still only a point outside of the play offs.

Rovers manager Darrell Clarke made 6 changes to the side that drew with Wimbledon on Boxing Day. Daniel Leadbitter, Tom Parkes, Stuart Sinclair,Christian Montano, Jermaine Easter and Rory Gaffney all returned. James Clarke, Mark McChrystal, Ollie Clarke, Jake Gosling, Matty Taylor and Ellis Harrison all dropped out.

Orient manager Ian Hendon was forced into one enforced change with Mathieu Baudry suspended following his red card against Portsmouth on Boxing Day. Blair Turgott slotted in at right midfielder while stand in captain Sean Clohessy moved to right back.

Rovers were quickest out of the blocks and the game was just 3 minutes old when Jermaine Easter saw his effort from the right edge of the penalty area tipped over by Alex Cisak for a corner. Orient were finding it difficult to cope with the physical prowess of Rovers striker Rory Gaffney. The striker on loan from Cambridge was bullying both Connor Essam and Jean Yves M’Voto in the Orient back line.

Gaffney was next to go close for the home side, having broke away from Connor Essam, the 26 year old bared down on goal. However left back Cole Kpekawa produced a brilliant last ditch challenge to deny the forward. Orient were finding it hard to create going forward with the home side breaking up play very well. The main danger for Orient was Rovers’s counter attacking when the O’s lost possession.

Rovers continued to be the team most likely to score, much to Orient’s chaotic defending at times. Rovers did open the scoring after 31 minutes, Lee Brown’s cross field ball caught Essam out of position. Gaffney took the ball down with a suspicion of handball, the forward then took on Orient’s defenders who all committed themselves early. Gaffney walked between them, then fired high beyond Cisak to put Rovers ahead.

The goal opened the game up as Orient pushed forward looking for an equaliser. Ollie Palmer who netted twice on Boxing day was played in by his strike partner Jay Simpson but the ball was just too far in front of him to get a shot away. Rovers then should have grabbed a second when Tom Lockyer headed over a Lee Mansell free kick. The Rovers defender was left with a free header inside the six yard box but headed over.

The home side were to rue that missed opportunity on the stroke of half time when Sean Clohessy linked up with Blair Turgott on the right flank. Turgott crossed for an unmarked Jay Simpson who tapped home for his 18th goal of the season to put Orient level at the break. Hendon replaced M’Voto with Frazer Shaw at half time, Cole Kpekawa moved to center half to partner Connor Essam while Shaw filled in a left back.

Orient started the second half brighter and could have taken the lead 5 minutes into the second period. Bradley Pritchard broke forward playing Jay Simpson in, Simpson’s shot was parried behind for a corner by Steve Mildenhall. However, the away side continued to look ridiculously open at the back and Rovers retook the lead.

Brown’s first time ball forward caught Essam underneath the ball, Gaffney’s run was well time but his finish was even better. A first time volley going in off the post leaving Alex Cisak with no chance in the Orient goal. After their second,Rovers sensed blood and pushed for a killer third and nearly grabbed it. Gaffney was too strong for Essam down the right, Gaffney ball was set back for Lee Mansell but the Rovers skipper blazed over.

The O’s pressed for a second but Blair Turgott’s volley was comfortable for Mildenhall before Simpson and Palmer both had efforts blocked inside the penalty area. Gaffney nearly completed his hat trick but Alex Cisak denied the forward after he was played in by Matty Taylor.

Hendon threw on Scott Kashket and John Marquis as Orient pushed for a second equaliser but created little. Bradley Pricthard volleyed over but that was the away sides only real effort in the dying minutes as they fell to their 4th away league defeat of the season. 

Same old, same old from Orient. A game where Orient’s undoing was once again themselves. Failure to defend costs you points and results at the end of the day. The defending in the first half was abysmal from all involved, Gaffney and Easter bullied Orient’s back line all match. How often do our strikers do that to the opposition?

Simpson scored yet again but to no avail due to poor defending and a lack of cutting edge in front of goal. Hendon stated post match that “he was hoping funds would be made available in January”. Well surely making the defense more solid is the key, I mean 1 clean sheet in the last 19 league matches is not good enough. Hendon stood shaking his head after Rovers’s first goal yesterday, individual mistakes once more were apparent but one thought Connor Essam is “rusty” according to Ian Hendon. Well why can’t you play Shaw at left back and M’Voto with Kpekawa at center half?

Essam only played 45 minutes at Bishops Stortford last Tuesday (where he gave away a penalty) before playing 2 games in 2 days, is that really good after an injury? It still remains a fact that Orient have to score 2 goals in a match to win due to the inability to defend. A massive task when at times Orient look adrift of ideas in the attacking third. Without Jay Simpson’s goals Orient would sit 14 points worse off, and in 19th place on 22 points. 

It is absolutely ludicrous if people don’t think clubs will bid for Simpson, I mean his record 18 goals in 23 games, one hell of a strike rate at this level. Hendon needs to add additions to the squad, someone to take the burden off Simpson in terms of goals but shoring up the defense is a necessity. Keep a clean sheet, guarantees at least a point and with Simpson in attack, the odds on you scoring are always good.

Stevenage away up next, a team that lost to Dagenham yesterday. But we all know that means nothing in football, it is not won on paper and Sheringham will be looking to put one over Hendon. A defeat yesterday and a win on Saturday is better than two draws but after the shambolic defending witnessed by the O’s faithful, I don’t think we can take much more. However we know that at the moment that is a given, anyway let’s see what a new year brings, Can Orient start the year with a win.. any way it comes, I will take it.

Leyton Orient assistant manager Andy Hessenthaler praised his sides character after they fought back from 1-0 down to beat Portsmouth 3-2 on Saturday. In what was a pulsating Boxing Day clash saw both sides reduced to 10 men but it was Orient who grabbed all 3 points ahead of their trip to Bristol Rovers tomorrow.

• Orient’s away record – P11 W3 D5 L3
• Orient have only 1 win in their last 9 away league matches , drawing 5 and losing 3

Hessenthaler spoke to leytonorient.com yesterday “It was a terrific performance from the boys, we had to dig in very deep”. Captain Mathieu Baudry breathed a huge sigh of relief after he got himself sent off after reacting to a Michael Doyle challenge. Hessenthaler stated “we didn’t make it easy for ourselves, obviously Matty getting sent off, it was a silly thing to do, he knows that, it could have cost us the game but fair play to the players they dug in and showed a lot of character”.

Orient fell behind to another sloppy goal but Hessenthaler commended how his side battled back in the game, much to Portsmouth being reduced to 10 men. Orient’s assistant manager revealed “it was a tough start for us, we showed good character, we don’t like to see players sent off but that was the case. It gave us that little bit of impetus to kick on and get a bit of confidence”

• The win over Portsmouth was Orient’s first win in 14 matches after conceding the first goal
• It was also their only their second win from losing position in 25 home league matches (the other 3-1 victory over Port Vale 2015)

Ollie Palmer scored twice in the victory: his first league goals since mid August and the former Mansfield man is hoping to push on. Palmer scored twice in the FA cup in November but has been unable to find the net in the league. Palmer spoke to leytonorient.com yesterday “good things come in 2’s, I have had to be patient and very grateful today that I managed to get on the score sheet. Most importantly we got all 3 points”

• Palmer is second top goalscorer with 3 goals
• Jay Simpson has netted 17 of Orient’s 37 goals (46%) and Orient’s last 2 goals scored away from home

It was not all plain sailing for Orient who had to be thankful for Man of the Match Alex Cisak for preserving their first win in 5 matches. Palmer revealed that “I ran over to him at the end, he made some amazing saves, he did brilliant today”. Hessenthaler echoed Palmer’s comments “Alex made some fantastic saves, that’s what he is there for, the last line of the defence, if teams get through he is there to make the saves”.

• 17 of the 23 league games involving Orient, both teams have scored
• Orient have only kept 4 clean sheets in 23 league matches – only 1 in their 14 away matches in all competitions
• Including last season, Orient have only kept 1 clean sheet in their last 18 away matches in all competitions (1-0 win at Morecambe)

Orient head to Bristol tomorrow for their second fixture in 3 days and Hessenthaler understands the importance of the victory yesterday, “it is always nice to get a win under the belt against a very good team, it was always going to be tough, hopefully it will give us a bit of confidence now, we are 6 unbeaten. We will patch them up again and hopefully get a result there”

• Only Wimbledon have drew more games away than Orient
• Orient have scored in their last 8 league away matches and 10 out of the 11 away league games (4-0 loss at Exeter)
• Record when scoring 1st – W8 D3 L2 – away – W3 D2 L2
• Only won 1 of their last 4 games when scoring first
• Conceding first – W1 D6 L3 – away – D3 L1
• Lost 9 of their last 15 away league matches when conceded first and not won in their last 9

At the halfway stage of the season, Orient sit just 1 point outside the playoffs and 7 points from third place. Palmer feels that his side have finally overcome a sticky spell and a run of results we see the right back up there. The striker stated “we have great players, Jobi, James, Payney, all good on the ball and create chances, we have just got to cut out these silly little goals”.

Palmer added “we will be fine, we have gone through a bit of a dip, got a small changing room at the moment with injuries and now suspensions. All teams will go through that but we haven’t lost too many games. Time to kick on and starting winning games and we will be right back up there”.

• Orient have fail to score 2 or more goals in their last 5 away games
• They have fail to win a game and score 2 or more goals since the 22nd August (3-2 win at Newport)
• Only Northampton (23) have scored more first half goals than Orient
• Orient have conceded 18 of their 31 goals in the last 15 minutes of halves, including 7 of their 18 away goals conceded
• Did you know… Only Northampton and Plymouth have led for minutes in matches this season that Leyton Orient

Rovers host Orient after a 0-0 draw away at Wimbledon on Boxing day, Wimbledon were reduced to 10 men early on but Darrell Clarke’s side were unable to break them down. Rovers sit in 5th position, 7 points off third place however Clarke knows that his side could have done better at Kingsmeadow.

• Record – P23 W11 D4 L8  F32  A24
• Home record – P11 W4 D1 L6  F13 A13
• 24 of their 37 points picked up on their travels
• Form in last 8 league matches – W4 D2 L2  F13  A6
• Only Oxford have conceded less in that period
• Last 5 at home (most recent first) – WWLWL

Clarke spoke to bristolrovers.co.uk yesterday “I’m disappointed, we never got our game going, bad decisions for the majority of the game. It was a scruffy game and we never really got going at all”. The Rovers boss thought his side didn’t do enough to prize open the 10 men of Wimbledon, “They lost a man early, put 10 men behind the ball but we never really looked like unlocking them, there was bad decisions on the ball but we will take the point and move on”.

• Rovers have failed to score in 6 games this season, 4 of them have been at home
• Scored in their last 5 at the Memorial Stadium
• Kept 8 clean sheets, only 3 at home but those 3 have come in their last 6 home games
• Rovers have only taken 13 points from a possible 33 against sides in the top half of the table

Rovers have been a surprise package in League 2 this year, but after carrying momentum from their promotion last season, the Rovers are flying high once more. Clarke is happy where his side lie in the table but knows that there is always room for improvement, “we are unbeaten in 5, 11 points in those games, we are never going to have everything go our way but we are in a great position half way through the season”

• There has been only 7 goals in the first half of matches at the Memorial Stadium this season
• 25 of their 32 goals scored have been in the second half, only Portsmouth have scored more (29)
• 10 of their 13 home goals scored have been in the second half
• No team has scored more times in the last 15 minutes of matches – 15 times
• Rovers would sit 13th if games lasted 75 minutes
• Only Carlise have gained more points than Rovers in the final 15 minutes of matches

Clarke is quick to point out that at the start of the season, Rovers were predicted to be nowhere the top aspects of the league and knows that his side have surprised a fair few onlookers, “there are a lot of good teams who have expectations to be in the top 7, we weren’t meant to be in that group, we have surprised a few. We want to push on, the players want to push on and we are coming through a key Christmas period, 4 points out of 2 games with 2 to play”

• Both teams have scored in less than half of their home games – 5 of 11 matches
• Record when they have scored 1st – W9 D1 home W3
• Rovers have only conceded 6 goals in games they have scored 1st
• Record when conceding 1st – W2 D1 L8 – home – W1 L6
• The last match they won at home they came from behind to win
• Matty Taylor is top scorer with 13 goals, 8 of them have been at home
• Taylor has hit 4 in his last 2 at home and 7 in his last 4 games at the Memorial Stadium

Midfielder Ollie Clarke was left frustrated as his side were unable to break down the Dons, however feels that they lacked a cutting edge in front of goal. Speaking to bristolrovers.co.uk post match, “we started hitting long balls, it played straight into their path, we didn’t have that little bit of cutting edge towards their final third and it cost us”. Despite the result, Clarke remained upbeat, “it is disappointing but then again look at the tale, point gained and moved up a few places. We need to carry on to build, hopefully we can pull along to top of the table”.

Team News

Goalkeeper Steve Mildenhall is set to continue after making his first start since August against Wimbledon. Daniel Leadbitter, Tom Parkes, Stuart Sinclair and Rory Gaffney are all pushing for recalls after dropping to the bench at Kingsmeadow on Boxing Day.

Darrell Clarke knows that it will be a tough game for his side, “Orient got a great result against Portsmouth, they certainly were expected to win the league let alone be in the top 7. Ian has come in for a bit of flack but as a manager not given enough time to turn around bad spells. I am sure Ian was delighted with the result and the players will be confident after their win”.

Orient are set to be without Mathieu Baudry after his red card in the win over Portsmouth while Sammy Moore, Dean Cox and Paul McCallum remain sidelined through injury. Lloyd James will have to pass a late fitness test to play after missing the boxing day game with an ankle problem.

Andy Hessenthaler is hoping Orient can continue their recent unbeaten record in Bristol on Monday, “we got to Bristol full of confidence and hopefully we can get the result their”.

Head to Head – Bristol Rovers 44, Draw 27, Leyton Orient 40

• Last meeting – 29/08/2015 – Leyton Orient 2-0 Bristol Rovers
• https://footballanalyst.net/2015/08/30/moore-of-the-same-as-orient-make-it-5-wins-from-5/
• Orient have won the last 6 meetings between the sides
• Rovers last won in 2008 when they did the double over Orient, winning both games 2-1
• The O’s have scored 19 goals in the last 6 matches, averaging over 3 goals a game

Prediction – Bristol Rovers 1-2 Leyton Orient

Red card change games well Portsmouth will know that all to well as Leyton Orient picked up their first win in six matches after a 3-2 win over in a late Christmas Cracker at Brisbane Road. A pulstating contest was turned on its head when Adam Webster was sent off for hauling down O’s winger Jobi McAnuff. Jay Simpson slotted home from the spot to bring Orient level after Connor Essam had put through his own net after 4 minutes.

Portsmouth were rattled after bring reduced to 10 men but it wasn’t until first half stoppage time that Orient edged ahead, Ollie Palmer glanced home a Cole Kpekawa ball forward. Orient were reduced to 10 men 7 minutes into the second half when Captain Mathieu Baudry was sent off for an alleged headbutt.

Palmer nodded home from a free kick to give Orient some breathing space but Portsmouth were flying forward. Evans pulled a goal back to make it a nervy ending for Orient who had to thank goalkeeper Alex Cisak who made some vital saves in the dying minutes.

Ian Hendon made 4 changes to the side that drew 1-1 at home to Yeovil last weekend. Ollie Palmer was recalled in place of Scott Kashket while Jobi McAnuff was handed a start following his goal last weekend. Connor Essam made his first start since the end of October after recovering from an ankle injury while Sean Clohessy had recovered from illness to start.

Portsmouth manager Paul Cook named an unchanged side after his sides late 2-1 victory at Northampton last week. Michael Doyle passed a late fitness while midfielder Gary Roberts made his return on the bench.

Orient who were without a win in 5 matches, started slowly with Portsmouth full of confidence. There was only one side looking to push forward and the away side took a deserved lead after 4 minutes. Good work down the left saw Kyle Bennett cut in on his right foot, his cross found Gareth Evans. Evans connected but his effort hit O’s defender Connor Essam and flew into the bottom corner.

The goal seemed to push Pompey on even more with Orient struggling to get near to them. Bennett, Evans and Lavery were finding big pockets of space and it was Bennett who created the next chance. The winger popped up inside but his shot was saved by Cisak who reacted quickly to keep out Caolan Lavery’s follow up header.

Portsmouth were all over the home side who were struggling to keep possession. The visiting side continued to press high up the pitch knowing the vulnerability the home side had at the back. The O’s were trying to create going forward but once again a lack of invention was causing problems however the game was turned on its head after 22 minutes.

Jobi McAnuff chased down a pass back to Pompey center half Adam Webster, his control was poor leaving McAnuff with an opportunity to pounce. McAnuff nipped in only to be hauled down, the referee had no option to point to the spot and sent Webster for a early bath. Jay Simpson slotted home the resulting penalty sending the keeper the wrong way for his 17th league goal of the season.

Adam Barton was brought on to fill in at the back while as Marc McNulty was  withdrawn. The man advantage turned the game no end, Orient were now competing, challenging and looking a threat going forward. Portsmouth were on the ropes, trying to stem the O’s going forward. McAnuff went close for the hosts after popping up just outside the box but his effort was well saved by Brian Murphy.

Palmer and Simpson were beginning to show signs of a partnership, with Palmer bringing the ball into play and flicking on to his strike partner. It nearly paid dividends when Palmer’s knock down found Simpson in the box but League 2’s most prolific man was unable to get his shot away. Palmer was growing ever more poignant in the game and created a chance for himself 8 minutes before the break but after a neat turn his shot was straight at Murphy.

As the half entered stoppage time, Palmer pounced to put Orient ahead. A long ball forward from on loan QPR defender Cole Kpekawa found the front man in the box. Palmer glanced home beyond Murhpy and it was fair to say it was a long time coming for the former Mansfield man.

• It was Palmer’s first goal in 19 league matches, a run stretching back to the 18th August

Pompey manager Paul Cook knew his side had to go for it in the second half and pushed Bennett up alongside Caolan Lavery in attack as the visitors went to a 4-3-2 formation. However after 5 minutes of the second half Pompey were back in the game as Orient were reduced to 10 men. After reacting stupidly to a Michael Doyle challenge, O’s captain Mathieu Baudry decided to push his head towards Doyle. Referee Graham Horwood had no option to produce the red card.

Orient had been awarded a free kick for Doyle’s challenge and added a third through Palmer. Sean Clohessy floated the ball to the back post where Palmer was left unmarked to head home his second of the game. Unfortunately for the home side, now the sides were equal Portsmouth were right back in the contest with Orient becoming second best once more.

The game was swinging back and forth with home keeper Alex Cisak producing a fine save from a Gareth Evans header from a corner. Cook’s men were throwing everything forward in search of a second goal and grabbed it with 24 minutes left. Following a Jay Simpson shot, the away side pushed forward, Kyle Bennett found himself in acres of space in the middle of the pitch. Evans made a run behind the O’s backline off the shoulder of Connor Essam, Bennett’s delightful through ball found Evans who calmly slotted home.

Portsmouth sensed blood with Orient on the ropes and seeked an equaliser. However found Alex Cisak in inspired form as he pushed Ben Davies thunderbolt around the post for a corner. Cisak was keeping his side in the clash and again did brilliantly to push a cross off the head of Lavery but disappointingly for the 1400 away fans, Evans blazed over the rebound.

Hendon tried to prevent the siege on his sides goal and brought on Frazer Shaw for Jay Simpson as Orient moved to 4-4-1 with Palmer leading the line on his own. The change helped Orient stop some of the pressure on their goal and with the game entering the final minutes Hendon replaced McAnuff and Palmer for Blair Turgott and John Marquis. Portsmouth defender Matt Clarke was inches away from connecting with Ben Davies’s corner as Pompey seemed to know it wasn’t going to be their day.

The O’s really should have added a fourth in the 7 minutes of added time, Marquis pounced on a poor pass back and rounded Murphy. However Murphy saved Marquis’s initial effort onto the post before Marquis saw his second effort cleared off the line by Enda Stevens. However the last moment was left with Alex Cisak who saved once more after Evans connected with substitute Gary Roberts cross.

Well, where do you start analysing that game then? It is fair to say at the half way mark of the season, Portsmouth are by far the best side who Orient have faced in the league. Their was no competition when the numbers were equal on the pitch. Webster’s red card completely changed the complexion on the game. Let’s pull no punches if it was 11 vs 11 for 90 minutes yesterday, there was only one winner.

But, football is a funny old sport, dominating a game for 22 minutes until a bit of pressure turns the game on its head. After struggling against Yeovil last weekend, Orient found their rhythm against 10 men and deservedly went ahead. However Mathieu Baudry must be breathing a huge sigh of relief after his ridiculous reaction. After John Marquis got sent off against Wimbledon, it cost Orient the game, yesterday Baudry’s action came within a whisker of costing Orient the game. I hope the french man has brought his goal keeper a Christmas present because after the display from Cisak it saved Baudry’s blushes.

Orient conceded the first goal and won a game. The stats have been defied, it was Orient first win in 14 league matches after conceding the first goal in a game. In fact it was only Orient 2nd win in 25 league matches at home after conceding the first goal in a game. A turning point in the season according to assistant manager Andy Hessenhaler. Orient sit 9th just 1 point off the play offs, a position which most Orient fans would have taken at the start of the season. It doesn’t get much easy for Orient who travel to Bristol tomorrow to face 5th placed Rovers.

A morale boosting win which was only Orient 2nd win in 11 games against teams in the top half of the table. With January around the corner, will Bechetti fund Hendon in the transfer market? Well I think the the end part of the first half of the season has shown bodies are needed in the squad. Well we have all known that since the start of the season but with Orient poised on the brink of the play offs, is the time right to push on?

I think any team that finishes above Portsmouth will be playing League 1 football next year. Orient have the target but will they have enough to succeed in their aim? Well at the halfway stage, it is in their sights. Apart from Portsmouth, no side has been exceptional. Accrington were good on the day and Oxford good for 45 minutes, another game turned on a red card decision. Well either way, it doesn’t matter what Orient do, We never do anything easily.

Leyton Orient manager Ian Hendon is expecting his side to bounce back in their clash with Portsmouth on Boxing Day. The O’s drew 1-1 with 2nd bottom Yeovil last weekend as Jobi McAnuff bailed out his side with a wonder goal 16 minutes from time.

Hendon’s side were booed off at Brisbane Road last weekend but he is hoping that it was just “a one off”. Speaking to leytonorient.com earlier today, “I am going to take last week as a blip, we’ve not played like that all season and I am expecting a big response”.

• Orient’s home record – P11 W5 D4 L2  F19  A11
• Last 5 games at home (most recent first) – DDDWW

Once more Orient were their own worst enemies handing Yeovil their goal, something which winger Jobi McAnuff knows has to change. Speaking after the draw last weekend to leytonorient.com “obviously the goal we conceded was poor, a bit of  a common theme, we are all trying to figure out what we can do individually and collectively to put things right”

• Only Carlisle (37) have conceded more goals in the top 10 of League 2
• Orient have only kept 4 clean sheets in 22 league matches, 5 in 27 games in all competitions
• Only have 1 clean sheet in last 10 home games and have conceded in their last 9 home league matches
• Orient have conceded 18 goals in the final 15 minutes of both halves (62%) including 11 between minutes 31-45: only Dagenham have conceded more

After the draw to Yeovil, Orient dropped to 10th in the league, their lowest position of the season. One major problem for the O’s has been the amount of draws that they have had. Despite this Hendon is confident that his side can start picking up 3 points more regularly, “We have had a lot of draws this season in games we feel we should have won. We are a little bit of where we want to be”. He added “I am confident results will start to turn and those draws will become wins and we will start to climb the table”

• Orient have drew 9 of their 17 league matches since the start of September
• Only Portsmouth have drawn more games than Orient this year
• In the 44 league matches involving both Portsmouth and Orient, there have been 19 draws

Defender Connor Essam recently returned from an ankle injury and after playing 45 minutes in a friendly in midweek, he is hoping to force himself back into the side. Essam was an ever present for the East London side before his injury against Accrington Stanley, speaking to leytonorient.com today (Christmas Eve), “I feel fit but need the match sharpness, hopefully I can do what I can in training to show the gaffer, I am ready to be back in the team”.

• Essam started Orient’s first 18 matches before his injury

Essam joined in the summer from Dover Athletic but after Jean-Yves M’Voto and Cole Kpekawa joined in the wake of his injury, he knows that he has to fight his way back in, “we probably have our best options at the back compared to the rest of the team. It is always healthy competition, the more players the better”. Essam understands that after recent poor performances from his side, a bit of Christmas cheer may be needed “we owe the fans one, hopefully we can provide that bit of Christmas cheer on Boxing Day”

• Form in last 8 league games- W2 D4 L2  F9  A10
• Only failed to score in 2 of their 22 league matches but failed to score in 2 of their last 3 in all competitions
• Scored in 4 of their last 5 home matches
• Only scored 2 or more in 2 of their last 12 matches in all competitions
• 13 of the 18 home league goals scored have been in the last 30 minutes of matches

A worry for the Orient is the inability to win from losing positions, something which has been a major problem not just this season but in previous seasons:

• Orient have only taken 6 points from a possible 27 from losing positions this season
• Orient have only taken 10 points from the last 51 available from losing positions – W1 D7 L9 – 1 win in 17 games
• At Brisbane Road Orient have only won 1 of the last 24 games they have fallen behind in – W1 D5 L18  – 8 points from 72 available

Portsmouth arrive in E10, in fourth place just one point outside the automatic promotion places.Pompey came from behind at promotion rivals Northampton Town last week to close the gap on the top 3. Assistant manager Leam Richardson spoke to portsmouthfc.co.uk post match “we just have to keep our heads down, we will keep working hard, we have to credit the lads, we stuck at it especially after falling one nil behind. They believed in what they were doing and scored 2 good goals”.

• Only Carlisle (16) have taken more points from losing positions than Portsmouth
• When conceded first – W3 D4 L1 – away from home – W2 D3

Richardson highlighted the character of his side helps them in games where they fall behind, “They believe, they look around the dressing room and know what type of characters they have alongside them and what type of players they are. It always helps and gives you belief as a player especially if you have done it before”

Manager Paul Cook thought his side got the bit of luck that helped them edge the game at Sixfields. Speaking to portsmouthfc.co.uk earlier today (Christmas Eve), “it was a good game, 2 decent teams trying to their best to win. A draw would have been a fair result but we got that little bit of luck that saw us edge the game. All in all we take the points and move to the game” He added “come the end of the season when we meet Northampton again, you add all the points up and whoever has the most goes up”.

• Accrington (17) and Portsmouth (17) have taken the most points against sides in the top half of table
• Portsmouth record – P10 W4 D5 L1
• Orient have only won once against sides in the top half                       – P9 W1 D5 L3
• In the top 10, Only Mansfield have taken less points against sides in the top half of the table than Orient

With the Christmas period seeing teams play 3 games in quick succession, Cook understands that it is a massive period for his side, “we have 2 games at Fratton Park and one away at Orient, we are looking forward to the games. Every game is difficult for a different reason”.

• Record – P22 W10 D10 L2  F39  A19
• Away record – P11 W6 D4 L1
• Only Plymouth and Bristol Rovers (23) have taken more points on their travels than Portsmouth
• Last 8 league games – W3 D4 L1
• Last 6 away games (most recent first) – WDDLWW

Striker Gareth Evans is hoping that his side have turned the corner after a sticky patch of results in November, “the main problem we have found is getting wins at home but we like to think we have turned a corner. We know that it is key to get a run together”. Evans knows that with his side just one point outside the top 3, a run at this stage of the season can hopefully push them along “if it continues, I am sure the games will come down quick, once January is out the way, it is downhill from there”

• In the second half of the season, Portsmouth only have to travel to 3 of the teams currently in the top half of the table

Portsmouth have sold out their away allocation at Brisbane Road with Cook acknowledging all of the support his side gets, “we just appreciate the support we have got, the support in numbers is amazing away from home, I don’t think we haven’t sold out an away game this season.” The support alongside the belief from the players can go a long way but Cook knows that “it doesn’t guarantee success, we believe we have a great opportunity”

• Portsmouth have the joint best defensive record in the league with Plymouth and Oxford
• No team has kept more clean sheets than Portsmouth – 9 including 2 in their last 3 games but have only 1 in their last 5 games away from home
• Only failed to score in 5 games this season and only once on their travels
• Scored in their last 9 away games and only failed to score in 1 of their last 8 games
• Scored 28 of their 39 goals in the second half (71%) and 22 in the final 30 minutes of matches (56%)
• They have gained 11 points in last 30 minutes of games, no team has gained more in the division
• They would sit 13th if games lasted 60 minutes

Despite Orient sitting 10th in the table, Cook feels that Orient are in the middle of a sticky spell but insists that every team will have one at some stage. “Orient early in the season for sure were undoubtedly from the reports I was getting probably the best team in the league but for whatever reason they have had a little hiccup”. Cook added “Everyone has had one, we’ve had it, Plymouth had one, Northampton had one; Orient are just having that spell now and I am sure on the back of 1 good win it will change everything”

• 12 different players have scored in the league for Porstmouth
• Matt Tubbs top scorer with 6 league goals – 3 in his last 5 games
• Pompey have taken 22 from a possible 27 available when scoring the first goal

Team News

Leyton Orient are set to be without Jack Payne who was substituted against Yeovil after picking up a shin injury. John Marquis (knee), Lloyd James (ankle) and Blair Turgott (hamstring) all remain doubts for the Boxing day clash but Sean Clohessy is set to return from illness to play. Paul McCallum, Dean Cox and Sammy Moore remain sidelined.

Ian Hendon stated to leytonorient.com “we are hopeful we might get 1 or 2 back over the Christmas period. A couple  have showed good signs in the last few days” The O’s boss understands the test his side faces in Portsmouth, “they are a big club with a big following and I am sure they will bring a few”

• Orient have won the last 4 meetings between the sides
• The last 2 wins at Brisbane Road for Orient have both been 1-0
• Portsmouth last won at Brisbane Road in 1975
• In only 2 of the last 6 meetings both teams have scored

Prediction – Leyton Orient 2-3 Portsmouth

Was that enough from McAnuff to keep Ian Hendon in his job as Leyton Orient manager. With the mood around Brisbane Road after Francois Zoko headed Yeovil in front in first half stoppage time, you certainly know that not all of the O’s fans are happy with the former West Ham coach. At times it was hard to see which side lied 2nd bottom with just 2 league wins all season. 

The away side looked together as a team from minute one with huge credit being awarded to interim manager, Darren Way. Way has now only lost once in four matches since taking over from Paul Sturrock and in truth he would have been disappointed his side didn’t take all 3 points. Orient’s injury curse struck once more with Jack Payne stretchered off with what looked a serious injury and not more than a minute afterwards Zoko headed Yeovil in front after a catelogue off errors.

Boos rung out at half time with Orient trying to respond early in the second half but failed to test visiting keeper Chris Weale. 34 year old Jobi McAnuff was introduced 10 minutes in to the second half and was the man to bail out his manager. McAnuff who was making only his 3rd appearance of the campaign after being banished from the first team squad at the start of the season. However, 16 minutes from the end, McAnuff received a pass on the left, cushioned the ball inside the full back and unleashed a 30 yard piledriver. Yeovil had a late penalty appeal when Iffy Allen looked to have been upended by Fraser Shaw but appeals were waved away as both sides had to settle for a point.

O’s manager Ian Hendon made 3 changes from the side that lost 3-0 in their FA Cup second round replay to Scunthorpe in midweek. Jobi McAnuff and Ollie Palmer dropped to the bench while Sean Clohessy missed out due to sickness. Cole Kpekawa slotting in a center half after being cup tied in midweek. Scott Kashket was handed a start up front with Jay Simpson as Bradley Pritchard returned into the midfield.

Yeovil who battle back from 2-0 down last weekend at home to Crawley made 2 changes from that side. Iffy Allen and Nathan Smith were recalled to the side with Wes Fogden and Harry Cornick dropping out.

With Orient keen to pick their first win in 5 matches they started off very slowly. Yeovil looked right up for the game as Iffy Allen caused problems in the opening minute crossing from the right but the chance was cleared. Orient struggled to create going forward with no real plan of action in attack. With Scott Kashket and Jay Simpson in attack, Orient were not playing to their strengths on the floor rather than hitting long balls which was proving to be easy pickings for Yeovil.

Josh Sheenhan had a sighter from distance before Matt Dolan curled a free kick straight at Alex Cisak in the Orient goal. Mathieu Baudry slotting in at right back in the absence of Sean Clohessy but in truth Orient looked nervous at the back from the start. Orient were trying to play out from the back with Jack Payne continually coming deeper to pick up possession. However with Blair Turgott coming in of the right flank and Bradley Pricthard narrow on the left, there was a lack of invention and any creativity in the attacking third.

Yeovil were looking comfortable and were causing the home side problems at the back. Ryan Dickson skipped past Baudry down Yeovil’s left crossing for Iffy Allen at the back post but the winger volleyed high and over. Orient’s passing and movement was slow, very easy to predict for Yeovil who were keeping their shape well.

In a half which lacked any real quality was beginning to pass everyone by but good work from Iffy Allen down the right saw his pull back fall to Josh Sheenhan; however the midfielder cushioned his effort over. Orient first real chance of the half came when Jay Simpson was found on the right, he played in Blair Turgott who saw his shot deflected for a corner.

Then the injury curse struck once more for the home side as Jack Payne went down under a challenge in midfield. With Paul McCallum, Dean Cox and Sammy Moore currently missing due to injury, it was last thing that Hendon wanted to see. However with Orient’s players more concerned about Payne’s injury, their concentration levels dropped as another extremely poor goal was conceded. Frazer Shaw lost the ball on the left to Allen who pushed forward, his cross was cleared poorly by Shaw to Josh Sheenhan. Sheehan crossed was miss kicked by Jean-Yves Mvoto leaving Francois Zoko to head beyond Cisak.

• Did you know that Orient have conceded 11 goals between minutes 31-45, only Dagenham have conceded more in that period
• 18 of Orient’s 29 goals conceded (62%) have been in the last 15 minutes of both halves

As half time sounded, large boos rung out around the ground and it was hard to see why not. The team second bottom of the football league prior to kick off looked very comfortable against a side looking for promotion. Yeovil had only scored 6 goals away from home before the game but with the defended that Orient possess, most Sunday league sides would have scored.

Ollie Palmer replaced Jack Payne after the goal at the end of the first half but Orient looked to start the second half strongly. Jobi McAnuff was introduced for Scott Kashket 10 minutes into the second half with Hendon looking for a response from his team. It took till just under the hour mark for Orient’s next chance, Ollie Palmer brought the ball down inside the box but was unable to get his shot away, with frustration growing ever more with the home fans.

Jay Simpson who had barely a sniff of goal all match did well to fashion an opportunity for himself but curled a shot over the bar as Orient continue to search for a leveller. With the home side pushing forward, spaces were being left at the back by Orient with Iffy Allen and Francois Zoko a real danger on the break. Allen and Zoko had efforts blocked a saved as the Glovers searched for only their second away win of the season.

It would take a moment of magic to dig Orient and Hendon out of a massive hole and it arrived 16 minutes from the end from Jobi McAnuff. The man who didn’t make an appearance for Orient until late November cushioned a pass from Lloyd James inside his full back and arrowed a thunderbolt into the top corner leaving Weale with no chance.

The goal seemed to wake up Orient who had been lackluster to say the least in the 74 minutes minutes prior to the goal. The game was nearly turned upside for the away side as Jay Simpson headed a Baudry cross straight at Weale before McAnuff did well on the left but his cross was put out for a corner.

Both sides were looking to win the game in the remaining minutes but Orient still look susceptible to another mistake at the back. It duly arrived when Frazer Shaw was again the man at fault, his header back to Cisak was short. Iffy Allen who had been a danger all game tried to nip in as Cisak and Shaw collided. Allen got to his feet and with Shaw looking to make appends looked to have gone right through the back of the winger. With the Glovers bench up and appealing, penalty appeals were waved away.

With Orient still intent on trying to win the, McAnuff nearly repeat his trick again, receiving a James pass, the 34 year old narrowly curled a shot wide of the far post. Palmer and Pricthard both had efforts saved a blocked in the final minutes but Yeovil went closest to nicking the 3 points when Zoko’s run found substitute Ryan Bird. Bird’s left foot effort just crept past the post a both sides had to settle for a draw.

A fourth consecutive league draw for Orient which sees them slip to 10th in the table – their lowest position of the season. But in truth, words do not show how bad the first half was from Orient. No spark and creativity from the home side who seem to be their own worse enemy currently. The past three games has seen individual errors cost Orient goals and yesterday was no different. BBC Sport described Tuesday’s effort against Scunthorpe as “How not to defend” I don’t what they can possibly think will do Yeovil’s goal justice.

So the statistics issue is constantly brought when a manager appears to be under pressure and I think it is clear for all to see how much pressure Hendon is under. Since September Orient’s league record:

P17 W3 D9 L5 – taking 18 points from a possible 51 available

Only Dagenham, York, Hartlepool (11) and Yeovil (10) have taken less points that Orient in that period. 

After a brilliant start, Orient have been found out tactically and it appears the coaching team at Brisbane Road has failed to find a different way of playing. Andy Hessenhaler described the performance to leytonorient.com as “unacceptable, there was no life in us”, a brutally honest opinion on the game and he was right. Let’s put it into perspective, Slade was under pressure after 6 matches of last season. Francesco Bechetti seems to have matured and understood more about the football club but the question remains, Is Hendon the right man to push Orient forward or is a change needed?

Well, it is a big 3 matches for Hendon: home to Porstmouth, Away to Bristol Rovers and away to Stevenage. Bechetti has got to realise that if you give Hendon a budget in January, you cannot sack him for a good time afterwards to give him time to knit the group together. If you were at Brisbane Road yesterday, you will know the feeling of the fans right now. The only benefit yesterday was it was a 70 mile round trip to see that performance rather than a 320 mile round trip on a Tuesday night.

It doesn’t get any easier for Hendon as Portsmouth travel to Leyton next weekend, the second highest scorers in the division.  It is quite clear that defending like we saw yesterday, Portsmouth will be rubbing their hands watching that. “If we perform as we have been doing in the last few games and cut out the mistakes we will get back to winning ways – it is as simple as that” were the pre match comments from Ian Hendon, but if your team fails to have a shot on target until the 74th minute, you have a problem. It appears as an onlooker that there is no training done in the week about attacking shapes and different ways to score. The message needs to be “if in doubt, kick it out” it might not be pretty or what we want to see but it would stop the mistakes we see every week.

The problem remains, Orient have to score 2 goals in a game to win a match. Orient have only score twice in 2 of their last 12 matches in all competitions. And when you can’t keep a clean sheet at home against a side at the bottom reaches of the division what chance do you have with a team at the top. Next weekend will be tough, we all know that Orient will give us some Christmas cheer… well maybe…. but we will still be there at Brisbane Road at 3pm.