Is The Grass Greener On The Other Side?
A penny for the thoughts of Gary Neville and the rest of the class of ’92 who along with co-owner Peter Lim felt that Richie Wellens was no longer the right man to lead their club through the football league. Wellens was relieved of his duties as Salford manager just 11 days after leading the team to their first piece of silverware as a football league club when they beat Portsmouth at Wembley to lift the EFL trophy in March 2021.
Fast-forward to Saturday afternoon and Salford were comprehensively outplayed by Wellens’ table-topping Leyton Orient side at Brisbane Road, a place where the manager is receiving the trust and appreciation of the fans, as proved by the lyrics in their new song: “We’ve got super Richie Wellens, he knows exactly what to do.”
Full House
The expectation around this Orient team is clear to see. Saturday’s game was the first time this season that the home end of the stadium had sold out and the Orient fans were rewarded for their show of support when Paul Smyth scored a fine solo goal after a mazy run into the penalty area had Salford’s defender’s grasping at shadows. From that moment on Orient took a tight grip on the game and never let go despite the lack of a second goal that would have better illustrated their near-total dominance.
The game had taken a while to build in intensity before Smyth scored his goal in the 17th minute. Perhaps that was understandable after the poignant way in which the club marked their closest home fixture to remembrance Sunday. Leyton Orient, like many other clubs, has been deeply affected by war and conflict.
Veterns
Clapton Orient, as the club was known as after the Second World War, were the first Football League club to have its players, staff and supporters volunteer en masse to serve in the First World War. Ten Orient players were wounded during the conflict and three players lost their lives at the battle of the Somme in 1916 – William Jonas, Richard McFadden and George Scott.
Momentum
Starting slowly has been a feature of the O’s play in recent weeks, but once they manage to build up some attacking momentum, they are very difficult to stop as it proved here until Paul Smyth’s fantastic, improvised goal. Seeing the diminutive winger jink his way past the comparatively cumbersome Salford defenders was like watching a Hollywood blockbuster where the outnumbered hero easily overcomes a gang of evil henchman.
Aaron Drinan missed a gilt-edged chance to double the O’s lead shortly before the half when a goalkeeping error from Salford’s Tom King presented the Orient forward with an open goal. Surprisingly Drinan, forced to take the effort from a tight angle with his weaker foot, could only hit the inside of the far post.
Orient’s dominance continued into the second half as the in form Theo Archibald’s shot deflected just wide while defender Dan Happe saw his header dramatically cleared off the line. Salford did their best to carve out a late equaliser but squandered a golden opportunity when left back Ibou Touray’s free kick from the edge of the area sailed high and wide of Lawrence Vigouroux’s goal.
Flying High
Salford had been on a run of four consecutive away victories before this game but Orient never really looked like conceding once they had taken the lead. The three points the O’s gained proved even more valuable as Stevenage’s draw away at Colchester allowed Richie Wellens’ team to extend their lead at the top of League Two to three points.
