Nugent eyes job despite defeat
LOSING to ten men to extend the league’s worst home record isn’t the best way to put yourself in the shop window, but Kevin Nugent insists he still wants a crack at the Leyton Orient job.
The O’s assistant manager took the reins after the departure of Russell Slade but couldn’t reverse a poor run at Brisbane Road despite Orient going into the break ahead.
After falling behind to an early Matthew Done strike Orient showed spirit to fight back and goals from Jobi McAnuff and Romain Vincelot put them ahead.
And Orient should have gone on to win with Ashley Eastham sent off for bringing Darius Henderson down in the box but Conrad Logan pulled off an impressive save to deny Chris Dagnall and momentum swung to the away side.
And they left with three points thanks to second half efforts from Peter Vincenti and a second Done goal.
Despite the setback Nugent was quick to praise his players while pressing his case for the full-time role.
“I’ve worked with the youth team, done scouting here and the managerial vacancy definitely interests and excites me,” said Nugent.
“The players for the majority of the performance were excellent, but there were a few lapses in concentration and that’s absolutely cost us.
“We went through everything beforehand, but it just didn’t happen. We had so many opportunities to score, we missed a penalty, and we need to get them goals and turn them into wins.”
The visitors opened the scoring on four minutes, Done firing past Gary Woods.
McAnuff hit back with a half-volley on 13 minutes with the turning point seeming to arrive on the half-hour, as Eastham was dismissed.
Logan’s save kept it all square until Vincelot nodded Henderson’s knockdown over the line although Rochdale were all square on 46 minutes through Vincenti.
And Rochdale won it when former O’s skipper Stephen Dawson found Done, and the winger advanced into the area before firing past Woods.
“We put a second plan into action after the original one was destroyed with the sending off,” admitted Dale assistant boss Chris Beech.
“It was definitely outside the box, but Henderson got the other side of the defender and he’s intelligent, there was minimal contact but as a defender you always have to be strong against him.
“Matthew Done’s never played up front until about six or seven games ago, for him to change position now in his mid-20s, he’s got so much dynamic movement, pace and a left-foot to complement.”