Having claimed their first point of the campaign in a goalless draw at Blackpool a week earlier, following three successive defeats, head coach Richie Wellens made four changes, recalling fit-again goalkeeper Sol Brynn in place of Sam Howes.

Dan Happe also returned, while Jordan Graham and Forde were given their first starts as Idris El Mizouni took the armband, with Omar Beckles on the bench.

Happe saw an early effort blocked by Michael Morrison on five minutes, with O’s inches away from the opener moments later as Archibald’s cross into the six-yard box just eluded Forde at the far post.

Forde and Ruel Sotiriou were then involved in a goalmouth scramble without being able to find the telling touch to convert, with Jordan Brown taking aim and seeing Morrison get in the way again on 11 minutes.

But Ethan Galbraith was booked on the quarter-hour mark for a foul on Sullay Kaikai, with Tom James firing a strong shot from 20 yards just past the post midway through the first half.

O’s took the lead on 29 minutes, though, as Archibald found Graham at the far post and, after his shot was blocked, the hosts recycled the ball for Watford loanee Forde to beat Jack Stevens on his home debut. 

And it was so nearly 2-0 just two minutes later as Archibald fired against the crossbar from 25 yards.

Graham had penalty claims waved away after going down in the box, while Danny Andrew was booked for a late tackle on Brown just before the interval.

And Brynn got down well to push Kaikai’s shot behind for a corner within a minute of the restart, before Galbraith put Sotiriou through and he fired wide of the near post.

Archibald then saw his chip hit the crossbar and drop onto the post but not cross the line on 56 minutes, but the Scot found the net moments later after being put through by James to double the home side’s advantage with an emphatic finish.

Happe had an effort from a corner deflected behind on the hour, as O’s kept pushing in the pouring rain, and James saw a shot from the edge of the box drift just wide.

Sotiriou then forced a save from Stevens after being found by Galbraith on 73 minutes, with the impressive Graham making way for George Moncur in the first change for the hosts.

Moncur beat three men but fired just wide, before Forde was replaced by Joe Pigott and James was booked.

Brown made way for Darren Pratley in the final stages, with the experienced midfielder having recovered from illness.

And the visitors saw Lewis Simper fire wide from the edge of the box before Brynn saved low down from Glenn McConnell late on.

Leyton Orient: Brynn, James, Turns, Happe, Brown (Pratley 87), Sotiriou, Archibald, El Mizouni, Forde (Pigott 84), Galbraith, Graham (Moncur 78).

Unused subs: Howes, Beckles, Obiero, Hunt.

Attendance: 8,266 (including 1,243 Cambridge fans).


Source link

Join the exciting world of cryptocurrency trading with ByBit! As a new trader, you can benefit from a $10 bonus and up to $1,000 in rewards when you register using our referral link. With ByBit’s user-friendly platform and advanced trading tools, you can take advantage of cryptocurrency volatility and potentially make significant profits. Don’t miss this opportunity – sign up now and start trading!