DANNY BEATS FEAR FACTOR
LEYTON ORIENT manager Danny Webb took plenty of positives from his first match in charge, despite seeing O’s suffer a narrow defeat at home to high-flying Carlisle United.
Gavin Massey opened the scoring at Brisbane Road after 25 minutes, but the Cumbrians equalised nine minutes later through Gary Liddle.
And Jamie Proctor grabbed the only goal of the second half in the 68th minute to give Carlisle the points.
Webb was appointed on Sunday after Andy Edwards resigned but was unable to oversee a winning debut.
He said: “The performance was positive. I won’t stand here and say it was unbelievable or anything like that.
“The boys did well. They did some things bad too, but we have to be realistic about the position we are in.
“We’re second from bottom. We aren’t going to go into every match and steamroll it.
“I think you can see when you play the Carlisle’s and Doncaster Rovers that they are a step ahead.
“But the performance was quite positive because we gave it a go and didn’t show as much fear as we have recently.
“Now we need to add another little bit and then hopefully we can string results together.”
Carlisle boss Keith Curle praised the spirit of his team, especially after ending the game with ten men when Proctor received two bookings in quick succession.
The Brunton Park club came into the match off the back of three consecutive 1-1 draws, but ended that run in east London.
“I thought as a squad we came together and showed unity,” said Curle.
“We played a number of different formations, but with the same personnel. That shows good flexibility and rotation.”
The Cumbrians manager also went on to reveal he took a different approach before the game by sitting with the away supporters.
Curle, who saw top goalscorer Charlie Wyke depart on the final day of the January transfer window, wanted to make sure his players were focused.
“Our fans were very noisy and I actually went over and sat with them before the game to watch our lads warm-up,” said the 53-year-old.
“I went to the back row of the stand to get a bird’s eye view to make sure the attention to detail was right.
“I wanted to make sure the mindset was right and it also gave me an opportunity to meet some friendly faces, which is always important when you are the manager of a football club.”
Orient’s opener came on 25 minutes when goalkeeper Sam Sargeant booted a clearance upfield and Massey lashed in from 20 yards.
Liddle equalised ten minutes later when he tapped into an empty net after Devitt’s freekick hit the woodwork.
And Proctor nabbed the winner when he nodded in after Sargeant had saved from George Waring.