Boss Slade hails history-makers

Leyton Orient boss Russell Slade was delighted to see his side make history with a fifth successive league win at Colchester yesterday.

Kevin Lisbie’s 63rd-minute header clinched the points at the Weston Homes Community Stadium, against his former club, after David Mooney’s opener had been cancelled out for former O’s striker Jabo Ibehre before half-time.

And victory took Slade’s men clear at the top after rivals Peterborough suffered a surprise 2-0 home defeat against Crawley.

Slade said: “The big thing was, I was asking them in the team talk to go that extra mile.

“There’s not much traffic in that extra mile because not many people get there but a lot of my players got there.”

Mooney fired Orient in front on 13 minutes from Dean Cox’s cross, but Lisbie was denied a second by Sam Walker’s save.

Jamie Jones had to save well from Sanchez Watt at the other end before Ibehre levelled.

And O’s grew increasingly frustrated as several decisions went against them, with Slade adding: “It was difficult to work out which way they were going at times with Andy (Woolmer).

“To be fair, he’s an honest referee and the fourth official actually said he got one or two things wrong and apologised but that’s the way it goes sometimes. We’re not always perfect are we.”

Lisbie headed home from Cox’s left-wing cross to restore Orient’s lead, while Ibehre had an effort ruled out for offside.

Substitute Shaun Batt had a great chance to make it 3-1 in injury time but fired wide of an empty net after Walker had gone upfield for a Colchester corner.

slade added: “They’ve thrown the kitchen sink at us, the big keeper has gone up and we had the opportunity to finally wrap the game up but we didn’t take it.

“But it doesn’t matter. Sometimes that will happen, but we’ve still managed to get the points and that’s the most important thing.”