Leyton Orient’s hopes of making the playoffs look to be all but over as they were beaten 2-1 away to relegation battlers Southend United on Saturday. Goals from Southend’s Tyler Cordner and Matt Rush either side of Orient winger Louis Dennis equalizer were enough to secure victory for The Seasiders. The result drops The O’s to 11th in the league, five points of the final playoff spot with only two games remaining.
Interim Manager Jobi McAnuff made two changes to the side that lost 4-2 to Cambridge United on Tuesday, Midfielder Nick Freeman coming in for Ousseynou Cissé, and Sam Ling replacing Jamie Turley in the backline.
Cagey
Following a cagey start to the game with only a few half chances between both teams, Orient came close to opening the scoring 30 minutes in when forward Connor Wilkinson won a headed flick on that put striker Danny Johnson through on goal, Johnson let the ball bounce before tapping the ball narrowly over the crossbar.
Orient went even closer a few minutes later, Midfielder Daniel Kemp received the ball from a short corner before firing it into the box to Sam Ling, who’s effort fired off the crossbar.
Orient would seem to rue the missed chances as in the 42-minute Cordner put the host’s in front. The Defender nodded it in from Ricky Holmes corner.
The O’s were forced into an early substitution when Cypriot under 21 international Hector Kyprianou suffered a head injury following a clash with Blues defender Greg Halford.
Impact
The midfielder was replaced by Cissé who made an instant impact getting on the end of a deep freekick from James Brophy in stoppage time of the first half, and heading it into the path of Dennis, who’s half volley went through the crowd and into the back of the net.
Following a few more half chances from either side, Southend restored their lead in the 76th minute. Substitute Rush got in behind Tunji Akinola before slotting the ball beyond Lawrence Vigouroux from a tight angle, Dan Happe attempts to clear off the line wasn’t enough to stop the attempt.
Despite pushing bodies forward towards the end of the game, Orient were unable to find a second equaliser, meaning now only a miracle could get them into the playoffs.
Following the game, Jobi McAnuff said that his side’s “performance wasn’t good enough”. He added that “not winning and getting into the playoffs wasn’t just about today, there’s been ample opportunities for us in this run in my time in charge to win games that were there for the taking, and we haven’t.”
The O’s welcome Carlisle United on Saturday who sit equal on points with a game in hand over Orient.
“East Stand at Leyton Orient” by currybet is licensed under CC BY-SA
