Orient Finally Break Home League Duck

Leyton Orient finally recorded their first home league win of the 2014/15 season against a lacklustre Crewe Alexandra side on Saturday afternoon at Brisbane Road.

In a game that the O’s dominated, they were on the front foot from pretty much the word go. With Chris Dagnall having two early runs that caused some problems for the Crewe defenders and home debutant Andrea Dossena having a volleyed cross/shot easily held by Crewe keeper Ben Garratt. Dagnall would again run down the Orient left before teeing up Millwall loanee Josh Wright whose shot could only find the Crewe keeper.

Crewe eventually came close to scoring as Brad Inman rounded Orient keeper Adam Legzdins, but his shot was cleared powerfully by O’s Right-Back Elliot Omozusi. It would be a breakaway from Orient that would lead to them opening the scoring 23 minutes in.

Plasmati opens the scoring

Chris Dagnall again made hay down the left flank before his left-footed cross picked out the head of Italian striker Gianvito Plasmati, who only had to head down and across the goal to score his second goal in two games. The 6’6” Italian had a quiet game on the whole, but his major contribution was the goal and what an important goal it transpired to be. Being very aware that one goal wasn’t enough, the O’s would double their lead about 10 minutes later.

The ball came to Josh Wright, who looked up and saw Dagnall lurking with intent in the box. Wright’s cross seemed to be heading slightly too far to the right of Dagnall and away from the goal, but the Liverpudlian forward adjusted and stretched his body brilliantly to rifle a half-volley past Garratt and into the back of the net. The goal was just what he deserved and would add further zest to what was a brilliant performance from the man who missed the crucial penalty in the shoot-out at Wembley in May. This ended the action in the first half, but the second half was further development from a good first half performance.

Dean Cox and Nathan Clarke each had their chances dealt with by the Crewe defence, as did Vito Plasmati, before he was replaced by last season’s top scorer David Mooney. However, it would be Mooney’s partner in crime Dagnall who’s run at goal that would create another goal.   Dagnall’s shot could only be parried by keeper Ben Garratt, and Cox pounced on the loose ball to slot it home for 3-0. A cool finish from one of Orient’s Wembley scorers made a home win seem even closer, but after Andrea Dossena was substituted for Gary Sawyer after about an hour of play, it seemed to change the dynamic of the game.   We then saw a period of the game in which the Orient defence became nervy and the whole team seemed to sit back and allow Crewe more room to come at them.  Sure enough, Crewe nearly found a way back into the game. A shot from range hit Nathan Clarke, before it bounced up in a great position for Anthony Grant to fire a shot from all of 20 yards out, giving Adam Legzdins no chance as it flew past him into the top corner. Crewe then created further chances, but Marcus Haber skied the ball over and Jamie Ness found Adam Legzdins in seeming unstoppable form, with the former Derby keeper producing a world class save to thwart the on-loan Stoke midfielder.   Had that chance gone in for Crewe, Orient fans would have been in for a very nervous last 5 minutes or so.

From the resulting Crewe corner, Orient broke and Chris Dagnall found substitute Mooney, who finished his chance and the game superbly with his first goal in 11 games. That proved to be the end of Orient’s goal scoring, but before full-time Scott Cuthbert had a shot blocked by the Crewe defence. A 4-1 home win for Mauro Milanese’s side, who had only won once at home all season before that, moves Orient up to 19^th in League 1. Crewe, on the other hand, fall to the bottom of the table, piling more pressure on boss Steve Davis.

Andrea Dossena's volleyed cross/shot

Man of the Match:  Many candidates as Orient played very well, but one constant in all four goals was Chris Dagnall. The man who missed the crucial penalty at Wembley delivered what was his best performance in an Orient shirt since signing from Barnsley in January. A very tough call, but Dags’ work rate and pace caused Crewe all sorts of problems and his goal was superbly taken. Mentions also for Romain Vincelot, Andrea Dossena, Josh Wright and Scott Cuthbert.