What a game! I must say that I’ve never seen the O’s play quite as aggressively throughout an entire game. Whatever Russell Slade has done (apparently the Brighton players were so frightened of him they had to perform) is working superbly. It was clear from the start that the O’s were ‘up for it’, Thornton and Chambers in particular snapping at the heels of their midfield, and everyone in an Orient shirt fighting for every ball. This is what the fans want to see, and win lose or draw if this is what we can expect for the rest of the season I think we’ll be happy.

What was also clear is that tactically Slade got it just about right, with Smith playing in front of (and sometimes alongside) the centre halves giving them protection, whilst nullifying the threat of Johnson who looked like their best player. His booking after losing the ball was the only blemish on an otherwise outstanding performance. Playing 4-3-3 or 4-5-1 is not without it’s drawbacks, notably their left back (Drury) had acres of space because Chambers was playing infield and Jarvis who was ostensibly on the right spent a lot of time harrying their central defenders.  This is a minor quibble, however, and one that was addressed after the break.

Norwich are certainly a good team, you don’t get to their position without being one, but they were rocked on their heels by the ferocity of the Orient players commitment. Both  the O’s goals came from free kicks, how often can you say that about an area that is generally under exploited by our team? It was perhaps inevitable that Thornton was in a position to get them, he seemed to be everywhere in the early exchanges, maybe his two match ban had sharpened his appetite for the battle, or is it just that he feels he has something to prove against the ‘big’ teams? The Norwich equaliser was a well worked goal, and it would be harsh to point the finger at any of the O’s defenders. This was to be the only time they were really breached, however, because although Norwich hit the bar twice they were both speculative efforts and it would have taken a huge slice of misfortune for them to have equalised. In fact in the second half Orient had arguably the better chances, although they were under the cosh for long periods they still tried to force a third goal which would have made the game safe.

Superb performances from everybody in a red shirt, notably Daniels who on this showing could solve England’s left back problem, and who linked well with Spicer who looked more comfortable on the left. (I think this is because his natural tendency is to drift infield, which means playing on the right he is coming onto his weaker foot.)

All in all a fantastic night, and one final point about the crowd. I don’t think I’ve ever heard so much noise from the West Stand, normally it is quite embarrassing to listen to the North and South ends out sing us, but this was a night when everybody got involved and behind the team.

Hopefully the first of many reports from various fans… (who’ll remain a mystery unless they want to be identified).

Pure Inspiration.

Can be the only way to describe the immediate impact of Russell Slade on the club. The loyalest Orient fans, after witnessing the Hartlepool debacle, approached crap new (not good old) Brisbane Road wondering how many Norwich would beat us by however delirium swept the streets of East London at a quarter to ten as we wished that we’d played like that all season.

The match itself was a class display, Norwich showed glimpses of class that explained why they’re clear at the top of the league and the O’s battled outstandingly for the whole ninety minutes.

From the first real attack of the game, a Scott McGleish flick into the path of Sean Thornton left the home support in shock as he put the ball past Fraser Forster, in the Norwich goal, into the net. Despite this our team seemed shocked and unsure what to do, so they resorted to sitting deep too much and trying to hit Norwich on the break. However the inevitable happened and some brilliant Norwich passing resulted in Korey Smith finishing beautifully from twenty yards out.

The natural Orient reaction would be to lose confidence and wait for the opposition to score another but Slade seems to have brought good motivational skills into the dressing room as Orient fought back to take the lead. Shortly beforehand though I myself narrowly escaped a heart attack as Chris Martin’s looping slice of a shot crashed onto the post with a clueless and unmoved Jamie Jones rooted to the spot. After a rare venture into the Norwich City half, Leyton Orient won a free kick, a delightful Charlie Daniels ball looped over the main Orient targets and was headed in surprisingly by Sean Thornton at the far post sending the home fans into ecstasy and shutting up the again lively travelling support.

This goal seemed to renew the confidence of the O’s players and fans who got behind the team, who in turn started playing some exciting football whilst defending well at the same time. Another good ball from Charlie Daniels was flicked on by Tam and produced a good save from Forster, then some of the best passing football and movement seen from the O’s all season (yes they can do it) left Ryan Jarvis shooting wide he’d have hit the target if he didn’t bloody rely on confidence to play well. The half time whistle came and despite the very encouraging first half most Orient fans were expecting the inevitable step up from Norwich in the second half.

Orient started the second half like they had ended the first, closing down Norwich well and counter attacking well with some good attacking football, Charlie Daniels was a joy to behold as he challenged brilliantly and repeatedly bombed upfield from left back to aid the attack. Despite lots of attacking football from both sides some excellent defending from Mkandawire and Chorley and their Norwich counterparts Nelson and Doherty meant chances were limited John Spicer had a shot deflected behind for the O’s whilst Stephen Elliott fired wide for the canaries.

In the final fifteen minutes more chances fell for both sides, more good running from Daniels earned him the opportunity to shoot and Fraser Forster got down well to save, a few minutes later Forster again saved well from a strong left footed strike from McGleish at the other end Jamie Jones made a rare save when he denied Stephen Hughes. The predictable four minutes was shown on the stoppage board (it always does when we’re winning against the big teams) and Norwich pushed for the late equaliser something they have achieved in getting when needed all season. Lively substitute Anthony McNamee was denied by the inside of the post with a wayward looking shot and Orient were lucky the rebound fell nicely for Ben Chorley to head away to safety with less than a minute to go Norwich gained a free kick twenty-five yards from goal, I cheerfully reminded those around me that Chris Martin had netted from a similar distance at a similar time at the weekend to equalise against MK Dons. However the average blood pressure in Brisbane Road plummeted when it was thankfully headed away, seconds later the final whistle sounded and the and noise generated would have taken off the roof of the west stand if it wasn’t so bloody high up.

Orient had earned a deserved victory against the table topping team through sheer effort and determination not to mention the genius of Russell Slade.

And finally after conceding 8 goals in three games against us this season Fraser Forster must hate playing the Orient and yes we already love you Mr Slade.