Orient v Brighton

Brighton 0 – 0 Orient

Martin Ling bemoaned his side’s lack of cutting edge in front of goal, though had good reason to be pleased with a solid performance following today’s stalemate at the Withdean Stadium. After a week that had seen the side conceding seven goals in two games, consecutive clean sheets will no doubt delight the O’s management. However, the need for extra firepower was more than evident in a game that Orient could easily have won against their old rivals.

Jason Demetriou was guilty of missing a handful of gilt-edged chances, while Adam Boyd could perhaps have done better with an early strike. With a severe lack of forward options available on the bench, Orient struggled to turn their dominance into goals, and today’s performance will have provided further evidence, if it were needed, that Ling must add to the existing strikeforce before the transfer window slams shut on Monday night.

As a whole, though, O’s fans will be pleased with a steely performance that saw the side more than match opponents that have impressed many so far this season. Micky Adams will no doubt be disappointed with his team’s one-dimensional showing, though the Brighton faithful could easily have been celebrating three points had Glenn Morris not produced a fantastic late stop to prevent the ever-dangerous Nicky Forster’s point-blank effort.

Most O’s fans, in truth, would have been delighted with a point from what promised to be a tough encounter, and today’s performance will have gone further toward easing the considerable defensive fears that had emerged in the early season.

Martin Ling described the display as ‘a big step’ forward, though added as a note of caution that his players must be more ruthless in the opponent’s box, noting that ‘maybe we could have taken more of a chance instead of trying to score the perfect goal’

All in all, another pleasing display will encourage Orient fans that, with some minor adjustments and one or two fresh faces, a rewarding season may yet lay ahead.