The deflating nature of Orient's collapse against a poor Yeovil side obscures the fact that the Os are in a better position than I predicted with two games of the season left. 3 games ago I looked at the fixtures of each of the teams and could easily see Orient in the bottom four after a defeat to Yeovil. Unfortunately my prediction that Orient would only pick up 1 point from the next three games was correct (against Yeovil rather than Exeter as it turned out) but on the plus side Wycombe have done the same despite having winnable games against Oldham and Chesterfield. No doubt right now Wycombe fans feel the same as Orient's- that their team is in a position it deserves to be in.
What appeared to be another negative Orient home team selection turned out to actually be quite positive - in a way. Although lining up with an apparent front pairing of Jamal Campbell-Ryce and Kevin Lisbie, the former either dropped deep or went wide looking for the ball. In effect Lisbie was still leading the line by himself but he was supported with Campbell-Ryce filling the gulf between him and the midfield and Matthew Spring getting forward as much as possible. Campbell-Ryce's role had the added bonus of also bringing Dean Cox into the game in the right positions as Cox overlapped with the Jamaican whenever he was on the ball. Sadly Orient's crossing wasn't all it could have been but when Cox did come up with the sort of delivery we expect it fell plum on Lisbie's head for the first goal.
There was so much more to the Orient performance than formations as they looked to fight their way out of danger. Matthew Spring deserves huge credit for the effort he put in and the team followed suit. Spring was provided cover for the back four when he was needed, played the simple short balls in the centre of the park when we needed a cool head and got up to support Lisbie when we attacked. It was a superb effort from the captain, leading by example when it was needed most. For the first time in months the rest of the team showed the same kind of energy and they deserved their half time lead. Despite Jamie Jones making two world class saves, Orient made most of the running and should have extended their lead before half time. Spirit and determination overcame the deficiencies that have plunged Orient into a relegation fight in a scrappy first half. It was obvious to everyone that we needed to continue playing at the same tempo in the second half if they were to enjoy similar success.
Of course we didn't and Yeovil looked surprised to be back in the game, spurning some early chances. From the start of the second half the signs were there that time wasting and slowing the game down wasn't the way to go. Orient ended up looking like England in an international tournament, abandoning the style of play that worked for them in favour of something that exposes their weaknesses. We started losing possession and making silly mistakes, seemingly losing their focus as soon as they took their foot off the pedal.
Ironically having weathered the early rally what should have been the high point of Orient's dismal season ended up being the worst thing that could have happened. When Lisbie applied the finish to the easiest goal he will ever score the relief around Brisbane Road was palpable. Wycome were losing, Orient were in front by two goals and Yeovil heads went down. What could go wrong now? Orient started enjoying some possession again and anyone who had never watched Orient before would have thought we were coasting. Unfortunately whilst Spring had lead by example early in the game, we still lack the Stephen Dawson character in the team who would have rollicked anyone losing concentration with the victory still to be sealed. When Yeovil scraped one goal back it was inevitable that before the final whistle went there would be a crucial moment that would settle the game one way or another. The rest exists only in snapshots in my mind, like the memories of a nightmare. Russell Slade making a needless substitution to eat up some time. The team losing organisation as a result. Conceding a corner as two defenders got in each others way. Every single Orient player back in the penalty area to defend it, despite Yeovil still having players back. Yeovil having free possession when the corner was cleared because every Orient player was in the penalty area but then every one of them watching as the ball was played back in and turned in for the equaliser.
The performance should give Orient fans more hope than at any time in the last few weeks because the team finally showed some fight and got themselves into a winning position. But they are mentally fragile, too scared of defeat to confidently chase the win we need to confirm League One status. There is no doubt they care, as evidenced by the frenetic Russell Slade in the technical area and the reaction at the final whistle. I think I'd have been more upset with the team aimlessly wandering around clapping fans than by them storming off the field having thrown away their lifeline. I'd rather have a four point gap than be sitting in the bottom four right now but there is a high probability that if we continue to rely on others results, we'll stumble and fall inches short of the finishing line. In the last 9 seasons 2 teams have survived with 48 points, the other 7 all required at least 50. No one has survived with less than 48 points since Oxford United in 2000. Being relegated with 47 points this year may require an unlikely sequence of results but history suggests that stranger things have happened.
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