mavericktango

Saturday 3rd October 2009

International call ups called off several League One matches including our match against Brentford but Hull got to go top after their 3-0 win over Tranmere. Rochdale's 1-0 over Coventry moved them into 12th above us on goal difference.

Tuesday 6th October - League One
Northampton Town v Leyton Orient

Henk Hoogenkamp replaces Robinson in the net for the trip to 16th placed Cobblers and Walton partners Donati up front.
Graham Low's tremendous long ball over the top of the defense in the third minute was picked up by Donati and as he cuts into the box he drills it low into the bottom corner. The O's probably just shade the rest of the first half but can't find another way through.
The first 15 minutes of the second half saw the O's carve out some decent openings but wasteful finishing kept the Cobblers in the game. The visitors appeared to have weathered the storm and were thinking of creating their own chances when Di Bonito found Autret on the edge of the area and his little dink into the area set up a foot race between Donati and the keeper which Donati won comfortably. One step rounded the keeper and he sidefooted his 15th of the season. Donati then turned provider with seven minutes left when he ran at the defense down the lefthand channel before slipping a perfect ball to Ross Gardner unmarked on the edge of the area and he fired high into the net to seal the win.
Northampton 0-3 Leyton
Northampton scorers: none
Leyton scorers: Donati 3, 61, Gardner 84
Att: 5,007

Hull confirm their top spot with a 2-1 win at Yorkshire rivals Huddersfield while Lincoln's 2-0 win against Rochdale gives them second place. MK Don's 1-0 victory over Oxford takes them third although the two clubs below them, QPR and Wolves both have two games in hand. Our efforts move us up to 10th, our highest position this season.

axeman

Nice to see that you're doing well with the O's. Any chance of a league table soon so we can see whereabouts you're placed and how the places around you look?

KUTGW :thup:

mavericktango

Current table as requested Axeman!

League One Table (as at Oct. 6th)

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | | Hull | | 14 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 28 | 10 | +18 | 33 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | | Lincoln | | 13 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 21 | 4 | +17 | 30 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | MK Dons | | 14 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 23 | 11 | +12 | 28 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Q.P.R. | | 12 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 18 | 4 | +14 | 26 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | | Wolves | | 12 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 22 | 11 | +11 | 26 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 6th | | Coventry | | 14 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 24 | 15 | +9 | 25 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 7th | | Walsall | | 13 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 24 | 18 | +6 | 23 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 8th | | Peterborough | | 12 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 15 | 10 | +5 | 22 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 9th | | Bristol Rovers | | 13 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 21 | 19 | +2 | 22 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 10th | | LEYTON ORIENT | | 13 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 20 | 21 | -1 | 18 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 11th | | Gillingham | | 14 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 15 | 25 | -10 | 17 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 12th | | Bristol City | | 12 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 14 | 13 | +1 | 15 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 13th | | Rochdale | | 14 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 17 | -4 | 15 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 14th | | Bradford City | | 13 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 18 | 20 | -2 | 14 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 15th | | Rotherham | | 14 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 19 | 22 | -3 | 14 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 16th | | Notts Co | | 12 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 14 | 18 | -4 | 14 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 17th | | Northampton | | 14 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 15 | 28 | -13 | 14 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 18th | | Huddersfield | | 14 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 21 | 21 | 0 | 13 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 19th | | Southend | | 13 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 18 | 23 | -5 | 13 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 20th | | Tranmere | | 14 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 16 | 25 | -9 | 13 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 21st | | Oxford | | 14 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 23 | -11 | 10 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 22nd | | Swindon | | 14 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 23 | -15 | 10 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 23rd | | Chester | | 14 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 11 | 22 | -11 | 9 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 24th | | Brentford | | 12 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 16 | -7 | 7 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

axeman

You're doing well for yourself there mate
Hope to see you climb the ranks even further. Would be nice to at least get to the playoffs

mavericktango

Thanks Axeman, I'd like a playoff spot too but I fear injuries and inconsistency might just scupper that.

Saturday 10th October - League One
Leyton Orient v Gillingham

Konstantinos Samaras is fit enough to take his left wing spot again as we face the team directly below us in the table.
Gillingham started brightly and had the better of the play for nearly all the half; only fine keeping by Hoogenkamp and solid defense kept them out. Yet the O's had the best two chances of the half, a 2 on 1 break that the keeper did brilliantly to tip over and Walton had the ball in the net on the stroke of halftime only to have it ruled out for a marginal offside.
Against the run of play on 56 minutes the O's grabbed the lead. Chebana intercepted a pass on the halfway line and wasted no time slinging it forward towards Walton, he controlled it well and blasted it across the keeper into the net from the corner of the area. Ten minutes later it was two when Walton picked up Paul Robinson's flick midway into the visitors half. He turned, beat two defenders and drove it into the bottom corner. Gillingham pulled one back with 15 minutes left, a long ball from Freddy Eastwood found Gary Teale in the edge of the area and he was able to avoid Gillian's lunge and squeeze his shot between keeper and post. With two minutes left Gillingham had the O's defense all at sea with a couple of balls from one side of the box to the other and Shefi Kuqi sneaked it to prod it home at the far post. Disappointing to draw from two up but probably a fair reflection of the game - didn't stop we giving the players a tongue lashing though for their complacency.
Leyton 2-2 Gillingham
Leyton scorers: Walton 57, 67
Gills scorers: Teale 75, Kuqi 88
Att: 6,277

Hull's 2-0 win keeps them top and Lincoln follow with a 3-2 victory at Swindon. We remain 10th without loosing ground as 9th placed Bristol Rovers drew 3-3 at Rochdale and 8th placed Peterborough drew 1--1 against MK Dons. Coventry occupy the final playoff spot, six points ahead of us but there's a fourpoint gap between us and 9th - that's the gap we have to close first.

Tuesday 13th October - LDV Vans (South) 1st Round
Leyton Orient v Oxford United

Scenting a chance of a trophy I sent out a full strength side against Oxford who are 21st in League One currently.
The O's started poorly again and allowed Oxford to boss the show. The visitors duly took the lead after 20 minutes when Clayton Fortune's deep cross allowed Craig Davies to get in front of his man to head home. The O's were stirred into a bit of life then but failed to alter the score.
It didn't take long to voice my displeasure at halftime and send the players back out early. It failed to do any good and we went out without a whimper.
Leyton 0-1 Oxford
Leyton scorers: none
Oxford scorers: Davies 21
Att: 2,014

Good job not many of the fans turned out to see that embarrassment.

mavericktango

Wednesday 14th October 2009

Davide Cardoso Rodrigues has STUBBED his toe and unlike the rest of us who holler and cuss then get on with it our Physio tells us he could be out for up to two weeks. One bright spot is that Stuart Richardson has finally resumed full training and might be in contention for the weekend.

Saturday 17th October - League One
Tranmere Rovers v Leyton Orient

For the visit to 17th placed Tranmere Stuart Richardson takes the place on the bench of the injured Rodrigues.
The O's looked short of confidence as Tranmere started brightly but we got on the scoresheet first in the 18th minute. Graham Low's long ball was completely missed by the defense and Walton was waiting to stroke it home. That was really the only bright spot in a poor half for the O's.
Tranmere continue to press and deservedly equalise after 65 minutes when the O's defense gave up on Taylor's long ball but Richie Foran didn't, he chased it down and from a seemingly impossible angle fired it across Hoogenkamp into the net. Richardson made his comeback on 68 minutes replacing the disappointing Donati but the O's finish with 10 men as substitute Fuller gets carried off seven minutes from time having used all three subs.
Tranmere 1-1 Leyton
Tranmere scorers: Foran 66
Leyton scorers: Walton 18
Att: 12,372

The draw sees us slump to 12th as Bradford (v Peterborough) and Gillingham (v Bristol City) both hit five to go ahead of us.

Tuesday 20th October 2009

The draw for the FA Cup 1st round has given us a home tie against struggling Conference side Cheltenham Town.

Wednesday 21st October - Carling Cup 3rd Round
Leyton Orient v Wolverhampton Wanderers

I don't think anybody gives us much chance against Wolves who are on a 14 match unbeaten run. Craig Sives replaces the injured Barry Fuller on the bench.
After a fairly drab and lifeless half the O's surprisingly take the lead with three minutes left before the break. Gardner's long ball sets Walton clear of the defense and his cheeky lob from the angle of the 18 yard area leaves the Wolves keeper no chance of preventing the goal.
The O's preformed well at the start of the second half but conceded the equaliser after 57 minutes when Kenny Miller rose above everyone to head in at the far post. The rest of the half and extra time fails to produce a clear cut chance so the match goes to penalties.
Ross Gardner sticks his penalty right in the corner as does Autret. Donati steps up at 2-2 but Matt Murray saves his weak shot , Chis Sedgwick thumps in The O's fourth attempt and Hoogenkamp saves Shane Paul's penalty to level the shootout. Richardson coolly strokes home the O's fith penalty and Hoogenkamp becomes the hero saving Stuart Giddings effort.
Leyton 1-1 Wolves (AET)
Leyton scorers: Walton 42
Wolves scorers: Miller 58
(Leyton Orient win 4-3 on penalties)
Att: 2,132

Friday 23rd October 2009

The draw for the fourth round of the Carling Cup gives us a trip to Championship side Luton Town.

Saturday 24th October - League One
Leyton Orient v Hull City

Richardson returned to the starting line-up to face 2nd placed Hull dropping the tired Donati to the bench.
Hull take the lead on 20 minutes when Dave Kitson caves open the defense and slots the ball wide of Hoogenkamp into the bottom corner. The visitors will be disappointed that they couldn't score any more against a lacklustre O's side in the first half.
Hull finally get a second when Gillian fails to stop Wilkinson heading home a cross into the top corner on 54 minutes. Ten minutes later McPhail puts Wilkinson in for his second.
Leyton 0-3 Hull
Leyton scorers: Kitson, Wilkinson 54, 64
Att: 6,670

Another disappointing loss to a top side drops us to 15th with 20 points from 16 games, eight points and a game in hand above the relegation spots.

mavericktango

Tuesday 27th October - League One
Leyton Orient v Huddersfield Town

The O's field and unchanged XI for the visit of 19th placed Huddersfield.
The O's had to work hard to keep the Yorkshiremen off the scoreboard in the first half but finished off missing the best chance of the half when Walton fluffed both the shot and the rebound on a one on one breakaway.
In a game of few chances the visitors take the lead just before the hour when Dempsey blasts a 30 yard free kick over the wall into the top corner. McGlinchey gets behind the defense and adds the second on 70 minutes but straight away two substitutes combine to reduce the deficit. Calabria's cross enabled Donati to head home but it was too little too late, we've been sucked right into a relegation dogfight.
Leyton 1-2 Huddersfield
Leyton scorers: Donati 71
Hudds scorers: Dempsey 59, McGlinchey 70
Att: 4,956

It's all getting tight in the middle, we have to start winning to climb away from the bottom end.

mavericktango

The middle to bottom of League One

| 10th | | Coventry | | 18 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 26 | 23 | +3 | 26 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 11th | | Bristol City | | 17 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 24 | 22 | +2 | 21 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 12th | | Rotherham | | 18 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 21 | 24 | -3 | 21 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 13th | | Notts Co | | 17 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 18 | 24 | -6 | 21 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 14th | | Gillingham | | 18 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 23 | 32 | -9 | 21 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 15th | | LEYTON ORIENT | | 17 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 24 | 29 | -5 | 20 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 16th | | Rochdale | | 18 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 20 | 27 | -7 | 19 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 17th | | Tranmere | | 18 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 22 | 31 | -9 | 18 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 18th | | Northampton | | 18 | 5 | 3 | 10 | 17 | 37 | -20 | 18 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 19th | | Huddersfield | | 18 | 5 | 2 | 11 | 24 | 26 | -2 | 17 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 20th | | Southend | | 17 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 20 | 27 | -7 | 15 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 21st | | Oxford | | 18 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 16 | 27 | -11 | 15 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 22nd | | Brentford | | 17 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 13 | 18 | -5 | 14 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 23rd | | Swindon | | 18 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 13 | 29 | -16 | 14 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 24th | | Chester | | 18 | 1 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 29 | -16 | 10 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
[/code]

mavericktango

Okay once more with the formatting!! :o

The middle to bottom of League One
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| 10th | | Coventry | | 18 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 26 | 23 | +3 | 26 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 11th | | Bristol City | | 17 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 24 | 22 | +2 | 21 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 12th | | Rotherham | | 18 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 21 | 24 | -3 | 21 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 13th | | Notts Co | | 17 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 18 | 24 | -6 | 21 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 14th | | Gillingham | | 18 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 23 | 32 | -9 | 21 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 15th | | LEYTON ORIENT | | 17 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 24 | 29 | -5 | 20 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 16th | | Rochdale | | 18 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 20 | 27 | -7 | 19 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 17th | | Tranmere | | 18 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 22 | 31 | -9 | 18 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 18th | | Northampton | | 18 | 5 | 3 | 10 | 17 | 37 | -20 | 18 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 19th | | Huddersfield | | 18 | 5 | 2 | 11 | 24 | 26 | -2 | 17 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 20th | | Southend | | 17 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 20 | 27 | -7 | 15 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 21st | | Oxford | | 18 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 16 | 27 | -11 | 15 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 22nd | | Brentford | | 17 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 13 | 18 | -5 | 14 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 23rd | | Swindon | | 18 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 13 | 29 | -16 | 14 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 24th | | Chester | | 18 | 1 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 29 | -16 | 10 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

mavericktango

Saturday 31st October - FA Cup 1st round
Leyton Orient v Cheltenham Town

Lee Richardson returned in the nets, Craig Sives replaced Low and Calabria replaced Samaras as I ring the changes in an attempt to shake up the players.
After a less than impressive start the O's take the lead on the half hour when Chebana found a seam up the middle and slipped in Gardner who volleyed it home from 10 yards. The lead barely lasts two minutes as Cheltenham sweep up the other end and Courtois' cross is flicked over the defense into the net by Woods.
The O's failed to buck up in the second half, it was hard to tell which side was the Conference side and which was the League One side. We now have to travel to Cheltenham for a totally unnecessary replay.
Leyton 1-1 Cheltenham
Leyton scorers: Gardner 31
Cheltenham scorers: Woods 33
Att: 2,413
'
Di Bonito has collected his fifth booking and will miss the next match as will Calabria who has a damaged heel and could miss a month. Lee Robinson's facial injury will add him to the sick room for up to two weeks.

Wednesday 4th November - League One
Leyton Orient v Brentford

Euan McLean, Samaras and Sedgwick come into the side to face 22nd placed Brentford because of injuries and suspension while Milton replaced the disappointing Richardson.
The cross London visitors take the lead somewhat against the run of play when Drew Talbot dribbles through the defense and strokes it past McLean to silence the large crowd. Milton has picked up a knock and has to be replaced by Donati at halftime.
Two minutes into the second half a route one ball is volleyed home by Ephraim for the visitors second. The O's had 54% of the possession but rarely looked like scoring on a day when both sides were blazing wildly.
Leyton 0-2 Brentford
Leyton scorers: none
Brentford scorers: Talbot 31, Ephraim 47
Att: 7,493

Losing our game in hand doesn't immediately put us in a worse position but it takes away the little advantage we had.

Thursday 5th November 2009

In a bid to inject some life into the players I have taken two players on loan. Twenty year old Belgian striker Axel Bossekota joins on a three months loan from Anderlecht reserves and Lens' French 20-year old winger Maxime Mantel arrives on a three months loan as well.