Orient ease to final day victory over Plymouth

Two goals from the returning Alex Revell ensured that Orient ended their season with a win and secured 7th, a placing surely deserved after such a remarkable campaign from the O's.

Revell netted the last two O's goals after coming on as sub after Scott McGleish and Dean Cox eased the away side into a comfortable lead.

Russell Slade had mentioned the possibility of using a few different players before the game but he put out a very strong side, including two of the Spurs loanees Mpoku and Carroll in what I would assume would be their last Orient games.

The O's settled into their passing game early on and their possession was rewarded as Matt Spring's shot was handled in the box by Curtis Nelson. It was a clear handball and penalty but still one of those hard calls when it seemed the player couldn't get his hands out the way in time.

McGleish slotted home the resulting spot-kick in what could also be his last game for the O's (the rumour of retirement is lingering). Despite the age gap to the loanees and many other players in the squad, McGleish has been no less effective, yesterday's goal was his 18th of the season.

And another to have a big effect on our season, Dean Cox, doubled the lead within the space of two minutes. The midfielder found the bottom corner with a 25-yard free-kick, his 12th goal of the season (added to the 22 assists).

Already-relegated Plymouth created little in the first-half, their best chances falling to Carl Fletcher with a super 30-yard strike and Stephane Zubar, who missed a header.

But in what has been a terrible season for the hosts, they did get at least something to smile about in their final home game of the season just after the hour. Yala Bolasie drilled a brilliant shot past Lee Butcher in the O's goal to half Orient's advantage.

But Orient were not to be denied a winning finish to the season, up-step Alex Revell. Revell has been out since the start of April and that injury came at the end of a barren spell for the striker (his last goal before yesterday was back in February against Swindon).

But you wouldn't have realised that yesterday, Revs bagging two in the space of 15 minutes to kill off the game.

The first came after keeper Romain Larrieu rushed out to try and get the ball but only managed to block it with his hands well out of the area. The referee immediately sent Larrieu off and Revell scored with the resulting free-kick, a massive deflection helping the ball past replacement keeper David Button.

Revell added his second and Orient's fourth in the final few minutes, Daniels bursting down the left and delivering the perfect ball for an unmarked Revell to slot home (his 16th goal of the season).

It was great to see the striker back on the scoresheet after a long injury lay-off. Ending the season on a win was equally rewarding, finishing 7th and only one point off the play-offs must be seen as a fantastic season with a small squad and no budget.

It would be very easy to sit here until August and say 'what if we had beaten Tranmere or snatched one or two more points beforehand....' but arguably the teams above us have had better seasons and deserve their chance in the play-offs.

However frustrating the table may read in terms of the gap to Bournemouth, a top ten finish can't be frowned upon. At the start of the season I would have laughed at anyone who said I would be writing the phrase 'play-off' more than once after Christmas!

The aim for the O's now must be to keep as many of our top performers at the club and keep the nucleus of a very good team at Brisbane Road.

Whilst some departures are inevitable with contracts coming to an end (and a good season increasing the risk of bigger clubs sniffing around) lets hope most of the same faces start the season with us and Slade pulls off some more magic in the transfer window, the same sort of magic that built such a good team this season.

The Teams:

Plymouth: Larrieu; Duguid, Nelson, Zubar, Paterson; Bolasie, Peterlin, Fletcher, Young (Button 77); Patterson (Arnason 72), Mason

Leyton Orient: Butcher; Omozusi, Forbes, Barrett, Daniels; Spring (Chorley 67); Dawson, Carroll (Chambers 80), Cox; Mpoku; McGleish (Revell 67)

"I'm pleased with 16, but I think I should have had a few more to be honest. The penalty miss against Notts County was a low for me, and I had a few other chances too.

"But like I said at the start of the season, my aim was to get more consistent with my goals and this is the best return I've had in my career.

"My aim now is to reach higher than I did this year, and it's great to be able to go into the summer now knowing that I'm fit, I've scored two, and we've ended on a high." "It's a great result for us and it was important that we were professional today and stuck to our philosophy of playing.

"Overall you have to say it's been a very, very good season.

"But when you get so close there's still that tinge of disappointment that you've not got one of those top six slots.

"My attentions are already on next season and I'm looking at and speaking to players now."

Are you disappointed at missing out on the top six by just a point? Leave your comments below....



Vital Leyton Orient on:

Vital Leyton Orient on:

Vital F1 Prediction League - Join now for Monaco