YEOVIL ‘FROZEN’ TO THE BOTTOM
YEOVIl caretaker manager Terry Skiverton was relieved his side were not humiliated in the first half as League One’s bottom club capitulated at the start of their match with Orient.
The Glovers were shambolic from the start.
They quickly found themselves 2-0 down and could have easily conceded five in the opening quarter alone as Orient cut through them at will.
This was not the nervy match that many thought we’d see between two teams in the bottom four. In the end, Orient were the only ones that looked like boosting their survival hopes.
Skiverton said: “I was happy that we didn’t concede seven or eight in that first half.
“I just felt that, with our young side and their experience, we really came up short.
“To concede the two goals, both from throw-ins, and be that easy to cut open was the most disappointing thing.
“With the necessity of trying to get something from the game, I think a lot of our players froze and Orient were a little bit too much for them.
“That was the first time since I’ve taken over that I’ve wanted to rip people’s heads off at half-time.”
Orient got off to a sensational start when, after Jobi McAnuff did well in battling for possession, the ball broke for Chris Dagnall, who shot across goal and into the bottom corner.
The O’s doubled their lead in the seventh minute when Yeovil failed to deal with Marvin Bartley’s cross, leaving Ryan Hedges with a simple finish in front of goal.
Glovers’ goalkeeper Scott Loach then prevented his side from going 3-0 down after nine minutes by pushing out McAnuff's effort following more poor defending.
Loach then diverted Darius Henderson’s shot on to the post as Yeovil threatened to sink without trace, before Dagnall struck the same upright after McAnuff had another chance saved.
Yeovil miraculously got to half-time only two behind, but Orient eventually scored their third on the hour.
McAnuff claimed the goal his performance deserved with a calm finish.
Dagnall was then denied his second as Loach pushed his powerful shot behind with Yeovil’s only worry coming from a late injury to defender Mathieu Baudry.
Orient boss Fabio Liverani said: “I’m very happy with the team and with the performance in a match that was very important to our season.
“For the players, for me and the club, it was important to win this match as we try to stay in League One for next season. "With me, Dagnall has been playing in every match, but it is not easy to choose which forward to pick because they’re all very professional in their training.
“It was an unlucky injury for Baudry because he was playing well, but fortunately Nathan Clarke and Shane Lowry can play in the next match so we will see.”