Leyton Orient went down 3-1 to ten man Charlton on a frustrating night down at Brisbane Road.
Christian Dailly was sent from the pitch during the second-half after receiving two yellow cards. However, it did not matter as Charlton managed to score twice more as the O`s huffed and puffed with very little end product.
Scott McGleish had drawn the O`s level in the game but Charlton showed every little bit of their ruthlessness to make sure they took the three points away from the game. The O`s now have a lot of work to do ahead of a difficult away trip to Southampton next weekend.
It was Charlton who had the first real chance of the match. Kyle Reid cut inside on three minutes after Ben Chorley lunged for the ball. Fortunately for the O`s the shot went straight at Jamie Jones who caught comfortably.
Orient rallied after an early spell of pressure from the away team. Stephen Dawson was doing well to get forward and cracked a shot inches over the bar from 20 yards as Orient pressed for the first goal.
Alex Revell missed Orient`s best chance of the half just before the half an hour mark. The ball fell kindly to the striker after taking a couple of deflections but Revell pulled his shot wide of the far post.
Charlton took the counter spell of pressure very well and responded with the first goal. Simon Francis lofted a ball to the far post where Alan McCormack pulled away from Elliott Omozusi to nod in. The right full back had been exposed all night and any one of three Charlton players could have steered the ball in.
Scott McGleish mis-kicked a ball, which fell from over the top and Orient failed to create another chance of any note in the first 45. They went into the break chasing the game.
Orient burst out of the traps after the break and levelled a few minutes after the re-start. Dean Cox played a cross in behind the defence as McGleish ghosted in at the far post to tap in and start the now familiar Americano celebrations.
The O`s had the upper hand and their chances of winning the game increased when Dailly saw red just minutes after Orient pulled level. Dailly rushed into a tackle on Dawson, which left the referee with no choice after a first yellow for a blatant hand ball.
Orient were keeping the ball well and looked for a way through. Charlton reverted to two banks of four and gave the O`s the challenge of breaking them down. However, as the minutes ticked over frustrations grew as Orient could not get through.
The Addicks went back into the lead just after the hour and knocked the stuffing out of the O`s. Scott Wagstaff cam inside from the right wing to collect a knock down from Pawel Abbott. Wagstaff held off Forbes and curled the ball into the far corner.
The O`s kept going but a way through was looking like a tough task. Dawson had good claims for a penalty turned down when McCormack ‘saved` his shot from the edge of the area inside the penalty box. The experienced Charlton man made sure he went down holding his face and the referee fell for it.
Charlton then put the game to bed late on when Wagstaff crossed for Chris Solly who had too much pace for Omozusi as he had just come onto the field as a late sub.
Player Ratings
Jamie Jones 6/10
Didn’t really have a lot to do other than picking the ball out of his net three times. Got the ball out quickly late on when the O’s were chasing the game.
Elliott Omozusi 6/10
Did quite well considering that he was playing down the right by himself for the whole first-half. Got forward when he could but was asked to do way too much to have a significant impact.
Ben Chorley 6/10
Played some good balls forward late on. Was under increasing pressure during the game but coped quite well.
Terrell Forbes 6/10
Made some good forward runs out of the defence in the second-half. Made a brilliant tackle on Abbott late on when the Charlton striker looked through on goal.
Mike Cestor 5/10
Important to remember that this was only his second senior game. Played a couple of poor passes in the first-half but looks quick and good in the air.
Adam Chambers 5/10
Forgot about his responsibility to play down the right in the first-half. Left Omozusi exposed far too often and needs to stop coming in to provide more width.
Matthew Spring 6/10
You could have given Spring the ball for the entire match and he still wouldn’t have found a way through with it. Too willing to pass it wide to someone else instead of going for goal.
Stephen Dawson 8/10
The O’s captain ran around the pitch like a mad man. Nearly scored a blinder in the first-half and got stuck in all over the pitch. More of the same please. Best player on the pitch for the O’s.
Dean Cox 6/10
Had plenty of the ball and tried his best to make something happen. However, some of his crossing was very poor especially when the O’s had men in the box.
Scott McGleish 6/10
Took the goal very well but missed a great ball over the top and chance to score in the first-half.
Alex Revell 7/10
Never stops running and always looks as though he can make something happen. Could have bagged a brace on another day.
Charlie Daniels 6/10
Came on and had a real impact out on the left. If the O’s can get another good winger in then Daniels will be very useful at left-back.
George Porter 5/10
Thrown in at the deep end and was under real pressure. Looks very quick and his game will get better.
Tehoue would have been the better option late on. Jarvis was marked out of the game as balls flew into the Charlton box.
Manager Rating
Russell Slade 5/10
God only knows what Slade was thinking in terms of Orient’s right flank in the first-half. Omozusi cannot play the entire flank by himself. Took far too long to realise this and the game was virtually gone before he realised it.
Vital Leyton Orient on:
Vital Leyton Orient on:
Lewis is spot on with his report. There was acres of space on Orient’s right for Charlton to run into in the first half. I think we passed the ball well in midfield but, unlike Charlton, we weren’t direct enough and so it took too long to get the ball forward. On the plus side, Dawson was great – it looks like we’ve found ourselves an inspirational captain.