zzzzzzzzzz.....

By Alan Chandler

A point (which was more than we all thought possible), no goal conceded (ditto) and an improvement over the performance at Northampton just a few days before (again - ditto).

Maybe we`re over the worst and our push for the play offs is back on track?

We were playing a confident and successful Walsall, in the middle of a long unbeaten league run, on their patch, on an uncertain surface when any mistake could have cost dearly.

Yet we came through with flying colours, well sort of.

Credit to our defence, in which Mkandawire again dominated.

Nelson had one of his better games and a save at the death enabled us to leave with honour.

In midfield, there were passages of play when we kept the ball well and passed it around.

We should do this more often; we look good.

Terry didn`t put a foot wrong but does not have the vision or craft of Thornton (that is, when the latter is on the pitch and not injured or banned).

In this role Terry is not stretched or exercised in any way and it is a safety first option but one we should not deride, especially considering the team`s form over the past month or so.

However, when the time comes to show boldness, I question whether Terry is creative enough for this midfield spot.

Chambers (who of course was back on home territory) will be missed on Saturday against Southend, who I see beat Leeds last night. He adds that spark to proceedings and when he had the ball last night, you expected something to happen.

Walsall look a good side. Well drilled and spreading long balls to stretch us at the back.

At 35, Tommy Mooney is still a threat at this level.

He has all the cunning and strength on the ball and the enthusiasm of a youngster.

How we could do with someone like him, even if it`s for a short spell; it would settle the forwards and help our own youngsters.

As the home side, they attacked with vigour yet apart from a couple of hairy moments at both ends, I never thought Walsall would score and the O`s might even have nicked it at the end when Jason D and Efe came on to liven things up a bit. I

n truth, I guess neither side deserved to win but we were the happier of the two at the end.

This was certainly a more confident Orient display in pretty awful conditions but there still remain some nagging questions; poor surface or not, why do we persist in belting long balls up the middle to our two front men when their markers were tall and competent?

You`re going to lose possession and attacks break down. Why not spread the ball out more to the wings - even on Walsall`s small pitch?

Part of the answer lies in the confidence and ability of our wide men to hold on to the ball and partly in the strength and depth of the squad; no Gray or Jabo who can at least jump and win headers which clearly Barcham and Boyd cannot.

Melligan works hard but without support. He`s still taking time to settle I think but will hopefully come good.

Finally, what great fans Orient supporters are! How much the players must appreciate it.

We took a hearteningly big support to this game, which was cheerily acknowledged by the team and the Manager at the end (I`ve just read on the club`s website that there were 271 away fans. Hello? There were many more than this. Has someone added the figures up wrong?).