On the one hand a narrow 0-1 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday flattered Orient yesterday and yet on the other Wednesday probably didn't deserve much more than their solitary goal. In the grand scheme of things it is probably fair to say that, neither set of fans left the ground particularly satisfied albeit the visitors had the comfort of three points in the bag. Only those in the dressing room really know whether the manager has sent out a negative team or whether the players haven't carried out his instructions but yesterday's post-match comments indicate that Russell Slade sent the team out with very modest ambitions. It seems that Slade hoped to keep it at 0-0 or even 0-1 for as long as possible and hope that we would be able to do a smash and grab at the other end.
After leaking bucketfuls of goals in recent games Slade's caution is understandable but there are ways to improve your resiliency without reducing your attacking options to practically nothing. Orient defended heroically but had to do so because the tactics invited Wednesday to attack at will in the belief that that we could absorb the pressure heaped upon us. With the only 'out ball' being a long punt up to Lisbie who had four towering defenders around him at all times, the Os had little hope of retaining possession and creating anything themselves. It has been rare for Orient to have as many attacking players in the team as they did yesterday and yet the likes of Cox, Campbell-Ryce and Jimmy Smith were barely able (or allowed) to get out of their own half, their defensive duties paramount.
None of which says very much for Sheffield Wednesday, who will be happy with the win but not the performance and a better team might have hammered us. Wednesday were everything you'd expect of a team constructed by Gary Megson - almost to a man, tall, strong and quick and Orient were simply unable to compete with them physically. Skipper Rob Jones gave the most dominating defensive display I've seen at Brisbane Road since Brian Kilcline visited with Darlington at the end of his career. At times it seemed that he was the only person to touch the ball in the Wednesday half. But for all that they created very few clear cut chances. You can defend with as many players as you like but everyone to work hard and stick to their tasks, which every single one of the Orient players did. Cuthbert and Chorley were immense and whilst his pace was exposed on a couple of occasions, Terrell Forbes stuck to it and almost completely nullified the threat of Michail Antonio. Paul Rachubka was rarely fully extended and most of the saves he made were comfortable, although he made them look anything but with a few more spills that put hearts in mouths. Unfortunately his best save, from a point blank header by Reda Johnson resulted in the same player turning in the rebound for the only goal.
This final stretch at the end of a disappointing season is going to require more cool heads and fewer squeaky bums. The Os have an unenviable run in and still have to face 3 of the current top 6 over the next 6 games, with Notts County thrown in for good measure. From the outside a degree of desperation seems to have crept into the decision making of the management. The last two games have seen highly questionable substitutions, with Campbell-Ryce and George Porter employed as centre-forwards - whilst centre forward David Mooney played in Campbell-Ryce's position on the wing at MK Dons! Even less understandably all of the tactical changes yesterday seemed designed to allow Jimmy Smith to stay on the pitch, despite him having little impact on the game. I think Smith attracts a lot of unfair stick but it wasn't his day and the team set up wasn't suited to his game. Aside from the goalkeeping problem I think we have a squad that shouldn't be getting dragged into a relegation battle, although the sooner that Ryan Dickson is fit again the better. But we've seen the team shuffled game after game, as if at this crucial stage of the season Slade is still trying to find out what his best team is. This isn't pre-season and we haven't got the time to find our best eleven. With the late introduction of a number of loanees to cover for injuries, suspensions and departures I think Slade has been drawn into constant firefighting and the bigger picture has become obscured. He and the players need to regroup and focus on what is going to be required to get the points required to stay out of trouble, plus a few more for the sake of comfort.
The same applies to fans. After the game a large minority ran out of patience with Slade and decide that for them, it was time for a change. Slade was appointed manager at a similar stage of the season in 2010 and some believe that is required again if the Os are to scrape out of trouble. For one thing I can't see see him leaving unless Orient's freefalling form completely nose dives. With the games that are coming up it is entirely possible for that to happen. It might be difficult but the fans may have to swallow a couple more days like yesterday and avoid pouring oil on the fire. The games against Yeovil and especially Rochdale and Exeter
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