ODUBAJO NETS ORIENT WINNER
THEY say that the mark of a great side is one that can produce results even when they are not at their very best.
And while Leyton Orient did perhaps not reach the heights that have previously this season, the fact that they were still able to secure another three points against Colchester United to stay joint top perhaps further reiterates their title credentials.
The O’s had to rely on a late Mose Odubajo winner to see off the struggling U’s, who more than played their part in an excellent contest at Brisbane Road.
O’s boss Russell Slade said:“We came up against a side who did very well against us and sometimes you have to give the opposition a little bit of credit.
“I thought that we were worth our 1-0 lead at half-time.
“In the second half, I thought that Colchester put us under pressure for the first 20 or 25 minutes after half-time and they were trying to get the ball in the box.
“They made life difficult for us and we needed to show a little bit more composure and turnover of the ball, because there were lots of areas for us to hit on the counter attack.
“We have two away games now and we have to take that ruthlessness on the road with us.”
Colchester manager Joe Dunne said: “I think anyone who was at the game will have witnessed that the better team lost.
“I thought at the very least that we deserved a draw and we did all of the attacking and made their keeper work, whereas ours didn’t have to.
“Two switch-off moments have cost us but unfortunately, that’s what you get when you’re (play- ing a) top of the league (side).
“But overall, I’m very pleased with the performances of late.
“It’s got to turn, because we can’t keep playing the way we’re playing at the moment and not picking up wins or picking up points.”
Slade warned in his programme notes that Colchester had done well against Orient in past matches.
And that was the case again, despite the vast number of places that separated the two sides at kick-off.
Freddie Sears’ long-range shot flew straight at O’s goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic in the opening stages.
But Orient went ahead in the 21st minute through David Mooney, who lashed home emphatically after the U’s had failed to deal with Scott Cuthbert’s bouncing delivery.
Colchester keeper Sam Walker did well to deny Kevin Lisbie before the break but the U’s almost equalised inside the opening minute of the second period when Jakupovic denied Gavin Massey on three occasions. The U’s pressed for an equaliser and got one in the 80th minute when substitute Marcus Bean headed in Ryan Dickson’s cross.
But four minutes later Odubajo finished low past Walker after latching onto substitute Shaun Batt’s drilled pass to score Orient’s
winner and break U’s hearts.