Leyton Orient started 2019 with a victory as Macauley Bonne’s first-half header proved the only difference between themselves and The Daggers.
Orient looked resolute at the back securing their 13th clean sheet of the season. Left-back Joe Widdowson has been a prominent feature for Justin Edinburgh, with the 29-year-old featuring in 12 of those 13 games:
‘’Us defenders pride ourselves on our clean sheets, the back four and Brillo (Dean Brill.) Before every game, the message for us is let’s do our job, let’s keep it tight at the back and limit the opposition to few chances to score against us.’’
Returning to winning ways after a busy Christmas period, Orient kept their second clean sheet in a row after a stalemate away to Dover Athletic:
‘’We’re pleased with both clean sheets, both today and against Dover. It was important we got back to keeping clean sheets and conceding fewer goals, especially after results against Dagenham and Boreham Wood.”
Fresh Feeling
A packed fixture list has seen the squad hit by injuries but Widdowson feels better than ever:
‘’I’m feeling good. The fact we’re doing so well at the moment is giving everybody that extra little bit of energy. We’ve got so much to play for, so much at stake…we haven’t got time to feel tired!’’
Justin Edinburgh and his coaching team received Widdowson’s praise as the left-back revealed the squads’ hunger to keep winning:
‘’The manager and the staff have managed the players excellently through a busy period of games. The training load has been perfect. Everyone is recovering well and coming into games refreshed. We just want to keep playing well, win games and stay top of the league.’’
Big Battles
With a huge game against third place Salford City this Saturday, the O’s will be grateful to play on home soil for the second consecutive match:
‘’This season we have made this place a bit of a fortress. We go away now, recover and prepare for next Saturday.’’
As we head into the business end of the season, an FA Trophy tie away to title rivals Wrexham follows the clash at home to Salford.
Widdowson recalled playing at Wembley for Northampton Town and how the opportunity is motivating him and his team mates to do well in the tournament:
‘’We’re all looking forward to it. The chance to play at Wembley is something not many of us have done. I have, but it wasn’t a good result so I would like to get back there and win.”
