With 87 minutes on the clock we were heading to a(nother) regulatory home defeat. We’d created chance after chance in the first half, only to succumb to what felt like their only shot on target. Jordan is robbed as he waits for the ball and they break down the left. There’s always an overload and as defenders leg it back to the line in panic, the ball is pulled back for an easy finish. Well worked from their perspective. Another reason why Jordan shouldn’t be playing in a back 3 for us.
That opening half though. Their keeper pulls off a great save early on as Cole’s snapshot is saved low to his left. Later, Cole would cut inside and curl one into the far top corner...of the keeper’s left glove. ‘What’s Cole doing THERE?’ said the young bloke behind, before Cadden’s pass set up the chance. Inbetween, Cole messes up the first time finish from a sweet right wing cross. Oh, and early second half, he forced the keeper into another low save. Anyway, in the clamour for Not-Shepherd (Earl) making his home debut, I feel Devante’s performance was overlooked.
Anyway, there we were...losing...minutes running out. By now, I was sat with Slacki and every 5 minutes I’d ask him if it was too early to lose faith. Never, in Slackiworld. The Frenchman lofts a hopeful ball into the box from the halfway line. Their keeper (funnily enough, like,ours, on loan from Boro – how many keepers does a midtable Championship team need?) comes trotting out, ready to take an easy one. But the MOTM has misjudged it and Phillips nips in to loop a header over him into an empty net. You Reds!
The players leg it back for the retake. There’s still time to win this. The ref blows, then blows again. He’s only showing Luca a yellow card...then another….then a red. Whatthef*** is going on? Seems Luca has objected to Orient not taking the kick quick enough following the ref’s whistle. Now, far be it for me to show bias, but if the ref had any common sense (whilst punishing Connell) he could have just called Luca over and explained the rules. ‘Look, mate, while I’ve blown the whistle for the restart, you can’t come into the centre circle till they’ve actually kicked off. It is your own time you’re wasting.’ I suspect he’s been tired of Luca chuntering on throughout and has produced the yellow not realising he’s carded him a few minutes before. Loudest ‘you’re not fit to referee’ of the season, proving Jonesy was there in spirit, if not body (skiing, part-timer).
Mind, it was easy to forget. From nowhere, with 80 mins up, the ref started dishing out cards like there was no tomorrow. Previously, he’d let challenges go (making for a better game). I don’t know what he ended with. 8? 9? From looking to win the game, we’d now struggle to hold on. How wrong we were. Did they get into our half while we had 10 men? Dunno, but O’Keefe (on for the…shall we be generous?....mercurial Cotter)…sends in a free kick from out wide and Phillips nips in to head home. Pandemonium. Grown men hugging each other (Slacki and I). Never in doubt. Must take more notice of Ian in future!
Onwards and upwards!
*** Phillips. Rescued three points from nowhere.
** Cole. Forced the keeper into several stops.
* Earl. Solid and brought the ball out well.
Official MOTM: Earl
Londontykes’ MOTM: 1. Phillips 2. Earl 3. Cadden
Despatches:
My favourite fact from yesterday came from Lucas Waddington. (He is his father’s son.) The last time we beat Leyton Orient, 9 years ago, the scorers were Conor Hourihane and...Devante Cole! No way! He’s rubbish. I don’t remember it, but I do remember sitting next to Gerry at the away game (nil nil). R.I.P.
Pre-match, we had a recruitment fair for the armed forces behind the East Stand. Why? We could do with having MORE supporters, not fewer. Anyway, it beats having one of those fanzones wot every other team has. If it wasn’t so close to kick-off, I’d have signed up myself. (The Navy, obvs, I’ve heard all about their beanos to the Caribbean from Pompey Ian. Trying – and failing – to blow up fibreglass hulled boats is right up my street.) I’m sure I could be a crack combatant. After all, I’ve forty years experience in warzones...Middlesbrough, Birmingham City, Port Vale, etc. And the leader of the Spanish Armada also suffered from sea sickness, and it didn’t do them much harm, did it? Errr...
The players? Roberts had nothing to do in goal. I don’t know where the 5 shots on target came from that the BBC website reported. Cotter was...Cotter. Enjoyed the way he limped off, not that he was being hauled for being completely and utterly s***. The Frenchman looked solid with newboy Earl, while Jordan just looks like a player waiting for his next mistake. Is that American guy fit yet? We are ruining Jordan’s career playing him where he is now, nevermind making him captain. Cadden had mixed fortunes, not every cross hitting the mark. Connell and Kane were as anonymous as they’ve ever been. How did we create all those chances? Phillips had his usual blaze into the crowd before he notched. McAtee had an excellent 1st half, before disappearing, while Cosgrove came on who once again showed his ability to turn a game by not doing anything (but we came back!) O’Keefe didn’t once trip over the ball or let one dribble out of play. And of course, crossed for the winner.
Oh, and without my friend Diane at the game (her 2nd funeral of the season….should I be worried?) I decided to join the hoi polloi downstairs in the 2nd half. I couldn’t take it anymore. The young lad behind just will not SHUT THE F*** UP. I know, rich eh? I was gonna blame him and his mate, but it’s not...his mate just responds occasionally. This other one CANNOT let more than half a second go without passing comment. And I wouldn’t mind, but when you’re criticising the positioning of the players (Cole, Cotter) when they’re blatantly under instruction, or saying thank goodness a long shot doesn’t fall to Cadden ‘as it will end up in the crowd’ (eh? You mean the one player who consistently hits it on target from distance?) Still, if you say enough, some it if will be right. I’m with him there.
Then I sat 4 rows back and could only see players’ legs and had no idea why Phillips (of all people) turned down a shot, 2nd half. He NEVER turns down an opportunity to shoot. You just have NO PERSPECTIVE whatsoever sat here, but at least you can admire your fullback’s thighs, or get in the linesman’s ear. And sit on a wet chair. Who chooses to sit in these areas!? Are you mad!!??
Drink du jour: Floc something-or-other in Spiral City, a cloudy pale ale. Luvvly.
Away: 619. Or 690. My ears, the PA...
The Damage:
c.£8 petrol
= c.£8
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