Ian Hendon was full of praise for the character of his players, as Kurtis Batchelor reports.
Leyton Orient Head Coach Ian Hendon paid tribute to his team for their spirited fight back against Oxford United.
“In the end it’s a hell of a point from being two-nil down at half time, but credit to the lads they stuck at it and they keep battling,” said Hendon.
A second-half surge had seen the O’s come back from 2-0 down to snatch a draw.
After only one win in their previous eight matches, Orient had come up against a strong Oxford outfit, who had won their last four games. After a disappointing first half the O’s poor run of form looked to be persisiting as they went into the break two goals down. Kemar Roofe’s close-range finish and John Lundstram’s deflected strike had put the visitors in command.
But the O’s mounted a brilliant second half showing. Jay Simpson bagged his 10th goal of the season to pull one back with 25 minutes remaining, before visiting midfielder Jordan Graham was dismissed for a second bookable offence two minutes later.
Diamond
As the match entered stoppage time Orient snatched a point from the 10 men when substitute Scott Kashket fired home his first professional goal from the edge of the penalty area.
Hendon had made the decision to operate with a flat 4-4-2 despite previously favouring a diamond formation in midfield, but with changes needed at half time he introduced Jack Payne and Ollie Palmer as he reverted to the more familiar midfield shape.
“It was definitely a game of two halves. We [had] changed our shape and it obviously didn’t work.
“So we went back to what we have been doing, how we’ve been playing with the so-called diamond and it showed that it does work and we do create chances,” he added.
Poor defending
Both Payne and Palmer were to play huge roles in the comeback but it was to be the O’s final substitution Kashket who grabbed the equalizer in stoppage time, and Hendon was thrilled that the 19-year-old proved himself with the late goal.
“Scott has had to be patient. He’s been sitting on the bench and travelling everywhere with us and he is learning.
“To be fair to him he’s the last one on the training ground and wants to learn and listen so I was delighted for him today to come on and score.”
Despite salvaging the point Hendon admitted he was not happy with the defending for Oxford’s first goal.
“The second one was lucky with the deflection but the first one we don’t know how to shut the ball down quick enough for me,” he said.
“Two soft goals again, but for the second half we went back to the three in midfield, took both wingers off and got a performance.”
Tuesday night sees the O’s travel to Luton Town for the second time this season having suffered a late defeat in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy back in September, and the O’s Head Coach is looking forward to the challenge.
“I have just been told they lost at Crawley. It will be a tough game against John Still’s side as always but we are looking forward to it.”