This could be perfect parting for Slade
IF, AS might well be the case, Russell Slade is on his way out of Leyton Orient, he at least signed off on a winning note.
Slade, League One’s longest-serving manager, was threatened with the axe seven days ago on the back of his side’s struggles at the start of the season.
Now he is wanted by Championship side Cardiff City – who have asked to speak to Slade about replacing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
“It’s nice to be associated with such a big club and they are a huge club,” said Slade, after goals from Scott Cuthbert and Jobi McAnuff earned the O’s a comfortable win at Scunthorpe.
“I’m very proud of the fact they’ve seen the good work we’ve done at the football club.
“I think they may have requested permission to talk to me but I’m uncertain and a little bit in the dark as to the response to that situation.”
The O’s boss thought his side were good value for this win, at a venue where they have struggled for anything positive in the past.
He is also backing them to match last season’s top-six finish – even if he is not around to witness it.
“It was a deserved victory. We were positive and created chances all afternoon,” Slade added.
“There’s no question this group can get in the top six in my opinion. I’ve always given my best for this football club and I’ve always asked my players to give their best, whether it’s my first game or my last game.”
Cuthbert got Slade’s potential finale off to an excellent start – heading in from a corner to the back post with just 131 seconds gone.
Rarely did they look like relinquishing that lead either in a first half in which Scunthorpe looked nervy.
After Lloyd James had fired a good opening wide, it was the Iron’s turn to score an early goal, this time in the second half, as Matt Sparrow volleyed low into the bottom corner.
Barely two minutes had passed though when former Reading winger Jobi McAnuff popped up on the goal-line to make it 2-1. United rarely looked like levelling for a second time.
“We shot ourselves in the foot,” said Scunthorpe manager Russ Wilcox, who said he had told a few ‘home truths’ in the dressing room.
“I wanted us to get on the front foot and back up the win over Coventry, but after two minutes it was Plan B.
“There were harsh words at half-time, we were very flat and lacklustre. There were lots of issues but we came out and had a right go.We got ourselves back in the game but conceding cheap goals has been our Achilles heel all season.”