The Cobblers were pegged back yesterday as Leyton Orient came from two goals down to rescue a point at Brisbane Road. Poul Hubertz and Chris Doig gave us a half time lead but the league leaders hit back through Adam Chambers and Tamika Mkandawire in the second half to leave us still searching for that illusive first win of the season.
It was nice again to travel to an away game that’s so close to my Southampton base and the short journey was welcome after all of last weekend’s travelling up and down the country!
I always enjoy the trip to Orient. It’s got a feel of the good old days of football about it, which is quite a rarity in the modern game. With all new stadiums being built all the time, it’s refreshing sometimes to go back to a place like Orient where instead of moving to a new ground they’ve just built up their old one, keeping the feel of days gone by whilst progressing on the pitch at the same time.
I’ve become quite a regular to the Brisbane Road fixture over the last few seasons as our paths have crossed both in Leagues One and Two meaning that I’ve made it to our last five visits including yesterday.
The new South Stand is now complete so the ground is finally neat and tidy after the development work with just the West Stand that houses the visiting fans still in need of a bit of repair!
Stuart Gray started the game with Ian Henderson on the right of midfield the only change from last weekends’ defeat to Yeovil.
Henderson’s inclusion was paying off early on and he seems a much better option than Gilligan in midfield in terms of getting the ball forward.
Brad Johnson had the first effort of the game but his right-footed shot sailed over before Daniel Jones hit a stinging shot just wide as the Cobblers pressed well in the opening ten minutes. The early pressure paid off when Poul Hubertz rose to meet a Jones corner on 15 minutes and nodded the ball past the reach of Orient keeper Stuart Nelson.
Incredibly for us, we managed to score another from a corner…that’s right, TWO in one game…as poor marking allowed Chris Doig to steal in at the back post and guide the ball home with his left foot.
So 2-0 up away at the league leaders and it was all looking far too comfortable. Adam Boyd should have halved the deficit on the half hour mark but Bunny produced a brilliant save one on one with the striker. Wayne Gray also found himself clear with five minutes of the half to go but Bunn again stood up and made another good stop before the ball was cleared to safety.
Right on the brink of half-time, Adam Chambers fired yet another warning that the game was by no means over when his shot hammered against the post as the half luckily came to an end!
There were plenty of murmurings amongst the claret faithful at the interval that we all know that with us anything can happen and I’m sure not one of the hundreds of away fans would have confidently said that the game was over, especially with the late dominance that Orient showed at the end of the first half.
Those worries would soon be shown to be valid as the home side came storming out of the blocks in the second half.
On 52 minutes, Bunn pushed away an effort from Jason Demetriou but Chambers made no mistake this time and finished into the open net. The momentum was well and truly with the home side and the inevitable equaliser followed just four minutes later. After Bunn had saved well twice from Paul Terry and Adam Boyd, Orient finally levelled as Tamika Mkandawire scrambled the ball home as Hubertz laid injured in the area.
Colin Larkin replaced Henderson while Liam Dolman came on for Andy Holt and Ryan Gilligan took the place of Joe Burnell as we searched for a winner late on.
With about five minutes to go, the Cobblers won a free kick but Brad Johnson’s low shot was held easily by Nelson.
So the game ended in a draw and it’s hard to know whether to look at it as a good point against the league leaders or two points thrown away. Early on we looked controlling and confident going forward but we once again lacked the experience to keep our nerve as Orient came back into the game.
It’s difficult to comprehend with the type of football we’re playing that we had more points at this stage last season than we do this time around but despite the league position of 22nd place things should even out eventually and hopefully that decisive first league victory is just a few days away!
PLAYER RATINGS…
MARK BUNN: Kept us in the game and without doubt we would have lost all three points without his man of the match performance. (9)
JASON CROWE: Started brightly but his influence decreased as we were put on the back foot in the second half. (7)
MARK HUGHES: Nothing getting past him in the air but will be disappointed with the goals conceded. (7)
CHRIS DOIG: Took his goal well but, like Hughes, should be looking to avoid the sloppy goals. (7)
DANIEL JONES: Looked absolutely shattered in the final ten minutes but a good effort and full of running at left back. (7)
IAN HENDERSON: Justified his recall and gives us something more in midfield going forward. Unfortunate to be replaced. (7)
JOE BURNELL: Battled well in the middle of the park. (6)
BRAD JOHNSON: Worked hard but distribution not always up to scratch. (6)
ANDY HOLT: Had a better game but still not convincing. (6)
ANDY KIRK: Didn’t get a lot of the ball, which can often lead to him seeming like he’s out of the game. (6)
POUL HUBERTZ: Well-taken goal and is settling in very well. Gives us something different up top and could well be a key player this season. (7)
COLIN LARKIN (SUB): Worked hard as usual but still can’t find a goal scoring chance. (6)
RYAN GILLIGAN (SUB): Never going to change a game from midfield. (6)
LIAM DOLMAN (SUB): Worried a lot of us with his lack of pace against the quick Orient sub but made the defence more solid in the final few minutes. (6)
It was nice again to travel to an away game that’s so close to my Southampton base and the short journey was welcome after all of last weekend’s travelling up and down the country!
I always enjoy the trip to Orient. It’s got a feel of the good old days of football about it, which is quite a rarity in the modern game. With all new stadiums being built all the time, it’s refreshing sometimes to go back to a place like Orient where instead of moving to a new ground they’ve just built up their old one, keeping the feel of days gone by whilst progressing on the pitch at the same time.
I’ve become quite a regular to the Brisbane Road fixture over the last few seasons as our paths have crossed both in Leagues One and Two meaning that I’ve made it to our last five visits including yesterday.
The new South Stand is now complete so the ground is finally neat and tidy after the development work with just the West Stand that houses the visiting fans still in need of a bit of repair!
Stuart Gray started the game with Ian Henderson on the right of midfield the only change from last weekends’ defeat to Yeovil.
Henderson’s inclusion was paying off early on and he seems a much better option than Gilligan in midfield in terms of getting the ball forward.
Brad Johnson had the first effort of the game but his right-footed shot sailed over before Daniel Jones hit a stinging shot just wide as the Cobblers pressed well in the opening ten minutes. The early pressure paid off when Poul Hubertz rose to meet a Jones corner on 15 minutes and nodded the ball past the reach of Orient keeper Stuart Nelson.
Incredibly for us, we managed to score another from a corner…that’s right, TWO in one game…as poor marking allowed Chris Doig to steal in at the back post and guide the ball home with his left foot.
So 2-0 up away at the league leaders and it was all looking far too comfortable. Adam Boyd should have halved the deficit on the half hour mark but Bunny produced a brilliant save one on one with the striker. Wayne Gray also found himself clear with five minutes of the half to go but Bunn again stood up and made another good stop before the ball was cleared to safety.
Right on the brink of half-time, Adam Chambers fired yet another warning that the game was by no means over when his shot hammered against the post as the half luckily came to an end!
There were plenty of murmurings amongst the claret faithful at the interval that we all know that with us anything can happen and I’m sure not one of the hundreds of away fans would have confidently said that the game was over, especially with the late dominance that Orient showed at the end of the first half.
Those worries would soon be shown to be valid as the home side came storming out of the blocks in the second half.
On 52 minutes, Bunn pushed away an effort from Jason Demetriou but Chambers made no mistake this time and finished into the open net. The momentum was well and truly with the home side and the inevitable equaliser followed just four minutes later. After Bunn had saved well twice from Paul Terry and Adam Boyd, Orient finally levelled as Tamika Mkandawire scrambled the ball home as Hubertz laid injured in the area.
Colin Larkin replaced Henderson while Liam Dolman came on for Andy Holt and Ryan Gilligan took the place of Joe Burnell as we searched for a winner late on.
With about five minutes to go, the Cobblers won a free kick but Brad Johnson’s low shot was held easily by Nelson.
So the game ended in a draw and it’s hard to know whether to look at it as a good point against the league leaders or two points thrown away. Early on we looked controlling and confident going forward but we once again lacked the experience to keep our nerve as Orient came back into the game.
It’s difficult to comprehend with the type of football we’re playing that we had more points at this stage last season than we do this time around but despite the league position of 22nd place things should even out eventually and hopefully that decisive first league victory is just a few days away!
PLAYER RATINGS…
MARK BUNN: Kept us in the game and without doubt we would have lost all three points without his man of the match performance. (9)
JASON CROWE: Started brightly but his influence decreased as we were put on the back foot in the second half. (7)
MARK HUGHES: Nothing getting past him in the air but will be disappointed with the goals conceded. (7)
CHRIS DOIG: Took his goal well but, like Hughes, should be looking to avoid the sloppy goals. (7)
DANIEL JONES: Looked absolutely shattered in the final ten minutes but a good effort and full of running at left back. (7)
IAN HENDERSON: Justified his recall and gives us something more in midfield going forward. Unfortunate to be replaced. (7)
JOE BURNELL: Battled well in the middle of the park. (6)
BRAD JOHNSON: Worked hard but distribution not always up to scratch. (6)
ANDY HOLT: Had a better game but still not convincing. (6)
ANDY KIRK: Didn’t get a lot of the ball, which can often lead to him seeming like he’s out of the game. (6)
POUL HUBERTZ: Well-taken goal and is settling in very well. Gives us something different up top and could well be a key player this season. (7)
COLIN LARKIN (SUB): Worked hard as usual but still can’t find a goal scoring chance. (6)
RYAN GILLIGAN (SUB): Never going to change a game from midfield. (6)
LIAM DOLMAN (SUB): Worried a lot of us with his lack of pace against the quick Orient sub but made the defence more solid in the final few minutes. (6)
2 comments:
I thought it was a great game yesterday, but have serious concerns about our midfield. Brad seemed incapable of passing, and Gilligan is out of his depth. Hope the new loanee provides the wise older head we are in need of.
On a different subject, I too had always enjoyed previous trips to Orient, but a brush with two stewards yesterday has sure as hell changed my opinion.
Yeah let's hope Russell provides the experience we're missing through Taylor's retirement last season. By all accounts he's a decent signing so hopefully the tide will turn quickly!
The stewards did seem a bit jobsworthy...I was warned when taking photos before the game that if I took any during the game they would take it off me!
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