Leyton Orient 1 – 0 Crewe

Orient’s survival hopes look a lot brighter as they took all three points in this relegation battle.

If the truth be told, Orient will face much better opposition than Crewe this season who huffed and puffed all afternoon but didn’t really build up a head of steam at all.

Thordarson made three changes for the Alex as Julien Baudet, Joel Grant and Shaun Miller were recalled at the expense of Mark Carrington, Danny Shelley and Colin Daniel.

Williams’ brought loan signing Scott McGleish straight into the team with Jarvis dropping to the bench. He also changed to the regulation 4-4-2 formation with Thornton and Adam Boyd also recalled to a midfield that included Jimmy Smith too.

Boyd had the O’s first real chance when he caught hold of a Jimmy Smith pass shot a yard wide of Ruddy’s goal.

Meanwhile Pope was offered a shooting chance in Crewe`s first attack, only for the on-loan Jordan Spence to make a decisive block.

In a very open game that flowed from end-to-end, neither side looked too secure at the back and the O’s drew first blood.

Adam Boyd and Jimmy Smith combined to lay a pass into the path of the on-rushing Stephen Purches, who was over-lapping down the right, and the full-back cut into the box before lashing a shot past Ruddy.

Chances were few and far-between throughout the game and the O’s stood firm to run out victors. Although a dubious off-side ruled out a seemingly good first-half goal for Crewe.

All in all it’s been a good first week for Geraint and two clean-sheets is just the icing on the cake really.

Teams:

Orient:

ones

urches

aniels

kandwire

pence

mith (Jarvis, 80)

hambers

hornton

emetriou

cGleish

oyd (Morgan, 25)

Subs: Moris, Thelwell, Terry,

Crewe:

uddy

rayford

ones

roomes

awrence

audet (Carrington, 61)

rant

oodards (Zola, 82)

iller

ope (Moore, 75)

onaldson

Subs: Abbey, Collis

Referee: Mr Clive Penton

Attendance: 3,705