EFL Trophy: Gillingham 2 Leyton Orient 1 – match report

O’s had clinched promotion from League Two at the same ground last season, despite defeat on the night. But they returned to east London in much darker mood on this occasion.

Head coach Richie Wellens, handed a two-match touchline ban by the FA earlier in the day after his own red card at Wycombe, gave a debut to new loan signing Cooper, following his transfer deadline day arrival from Swansea City, as young striker Charlie Pegrum was also given his first start.

And the visitors had their first sight of goal on eight minutes when George Moncur squared for Joe Pigott, who fired wide from 20 yards.

Max Sanders had a dipping shot saved by Glenn Morris soon after, while Forde dragged an effort wide from Pigott’s smart pass as the visitors maintained their good start.

Morris was forced into a good save midway through the half to deny Forde’s curling attempt, after the 19-year-old Watford loanee had combined with Pigott.

But O’s broke the deadlock two minutes before the interval when Moncur fired against the post and saw the ball hit Morris on the back before rebounding over the line.

Cooper was shown a yellow card for a foul on Jayden Clarke during stoppage time, but O’s saw Pigott and Pegrum fire shots just over the crossbar early in the second half.

Ethan Galbraith was booked on the hour, with Paul Terry and Matt Harrold also shown yellow cards in the visiting dugout, along with Gillingham’s Robbie McKenzie.

And O’s were then reduced to 10 men when Forde was dismissed following an off-the-ball incident.

Sol Brynn produced a superb save to keep out a volley from Shaun Williams, before O’s were reduced to nine men as Cooper was given his marching orders for a foul on Macauley Bonne.

O’s made a triple change midway through the half as Tom James, Theo Archibald and Ruel Sotiriou replaced Moncur, Pigott and Pegrum and then saw Brynn parry a fierce strike from Cheye Alexander before claiming Bonne’s header.

Rob Hunt made way for Idris El Mizouni for the final quarter of an hour, but Gills were awarded a penalty on 79 minutes and Alexander converted from the spot to level.

And things got worse for O’s as the hosts took the lead on 83 minutes thanks to an Omar Beckles own goal.

The visitors had a great chance to get back on terms as normal time drew to a close, but Morris saved by El Mizouni and Sotiriou fired the rebound over.

But nine minutes of injury time could not produce any more drama as O’s fell to defeat.

Leyton Orient: Brynn, Pigott (Archibald 68), Cooper, Moncur (James 68), Forde, Pratley, Beckles, Galbraith, Sanders, Hunt (El Mizouni 75), Pegrum (Sotiriou 68). Unused subs: Howes, Graham, Obiero.