After a struggle to find a pre-match watering hole in Leyton High Road - there's only one left and the blast of heat coming from the front door told you it was a waste of time - we eventually settled down in the old Main Stand at the O's re-developed stadium that now looks out on three very modest stands with four or five flats stuffed into each corner. We had the entire stand, so our fans were spread the length of the pitch and I believe the vocal support we had made all the difference in a tight match that was short on goal-scoring opportunities.
We lined-up unchanged and played 4-5-1 again with Deon Burton upfront and Miguel Llera was sensibly sporting a Petr Cech style skull cap. We got off to a decent start but found it hard to break down an organised and hard-working Orient side. They gave us a much better game than either Wycombe or Hartlepool have done. They were aided by a niggling referree who stopped the game frequently for any sort of challenge. The first real goal-scoring chance fell to the O's when a free-kick awarded against a feisty Racon challenge on our left flank was glanced on by last season's player of the year, Mkandawire.
Jonjo Shelvey was putting himself about a bit as if determined to atone for his first two performances of the season. It earned him an 18th minute booking but it didn't slow him down and he continued to battle for everything. It was a surprise, therefore, when he lined up with Llera to take a free-kick from 25 yards early in the second-half, that it was the Spaniard who whistled a shot in that Jones did very well in the Orient goal to tip over the bar. It was a signal that we were upping the ante and the equaliser came after 67 minutes, much to the relief of the nosiy Charlton following. A long free-kick from the Charlton half was headed on by Deon Burton and Lloyd Sam played the ball across the goal for Shelvey to volley home with a scissors-kick from the edge of the area.
Despite the Charlton cries of "4-4-2, 4-4-2" I think most of us were relieved to be back on level terms and would have settled for the point. Without any serious striking options, switching to 4-4-2 would only have weakened our midfield as witnessed in the Wycombe game. It would also have been a tough call to pick anyone from a hard-grafting midfield to come off. So I was pleased Parky ignored the call and that he stuck to his game plan.
With six minutes left, we got just the sort of break I was referring to in yesterday's post. A poor back pass from Mkandawire let Deon Burton in on goal from 30 yards. He ran on and lobbed Jones. The ground hushed as the ball stopped and for a split-second it looked like he'd missed the goal but his wheeling celebration told us it was in and the Charlton fans erupted on the touchline.
It was a great result and a fighting performance that augers well for Saturday's visit of tenth -placed Walsall who went down 2-1 at home to Leeds last night. I can't wait.
The way the commentator told it last night, Shelvey was lucky to stay on the pitch, as he elbowed a player in the face. Not just that...from the commentary it seemed we were fouling left, right and centre. If it proves we've got some grit and a backbone this year...fine, as long as we don't over do it, and lose because we're down players.
ReplyDeleteYou could hear the singing through the commentary. Brilliant!!