It's Round and It's White
Preston’s fans came into the game with optimism and hope for their new mangers era at Preston North End but they completely failed in living up to this in every aspect. Graham Westley surprised with his team selection by dropping last week’s MOTM Harry Bunn and highly rated Danny Mayor to not even be in his match day 16. He also started all three new signings who all signed on Friday and had not even yet trained with their teammates. While Orient handed Dean Leacock his debut.
The first half was very dull with Leyton Orient having the better of the play with no 7 Cox being the main influence. Preston had there one and only shot on target in the opening 20 minutes with Jake Jervis set free down the middle but he could not apply the finish from around 14 yards with just the keeper to beat. The game then went into a phase where no one could gain control but Orient did have a goal disallowed controversially it did look onside and the linesmen did raise his flag late but the goal from Mooney didn’t count and he voiced his displeasure in this. Cox had the best chance of the first half but he fired over when the ball fell to him from around 12 yards. Jervis was then subbed when Preston changed from a 4 4 2 to a 4 5 1 but this didn’t really have an impact as Orient continued to boss the game with good football. Just before Half Time the dangerous Cox had an 18 yard effort parried by Stuckman but it didn’t fall to a player in blue.
Preston had their best period of the match in the first 15 minutes of the second half with Paul Coutts bossing the game but despite a few runs into the box Preston couldn’t produce anything of note. Orient then deservedly took the lead in the 67th minute with Laird and Lisbie playing a neat one two then Laird finished smartly into the far right had corner leaving Stuckman no chance. North end tried their best to get back onto level terms but again didn’t test Butcher in orients goal. Paul Coutts attempted to chip the keeper from 20 yards but couldn’t find the net when Terrell Forbes cleared. Smith then finished the game off when he finished from six yards when MOTM Cox crossed from the left in the 80th minute. After this the imps killed the game off with ease with the introduction of Tsmonou and Gray making no influence North end created nothing of note as much of the 11,436 headed for the exits in the final ten minutes frustrated with their teams abysmal showing but there Orient fans who were brilliant all game kept singing to the final whistle with the chant 2 0 to the football team being truly justified.
After the game the orient manager said “The only disappointing thing from the first half was we didn’t get a goal but I’m delighted with the second half.”Today we put in a really good away performance and a really good professional performance.”It is our fifth win of the season and it’s put us halfway up the table. If we can put the run together like we did last season then who knows where it will take us.”
While Graham Westley was left complaining about his team’s performance but his team selection may have had an influence on this extremely poor showing.
