Captain praises performance against Barnsley

East London Advertiser: Darius Henderson of Leyton Orient (pic: Gavin Ellis/TGSPHOTO)Darius Henderson of Leyton Orient (pic: Gavin Ellis/TGSPHOTO) (Image: Gavin Ellis/TGSPHOTO c/o 27 Plaiters Way, Braintree, Essex, CM7 3LR - Editorial Use ONLY - FA Premier League and Football Lea...)

Leyton Orient captain Nathan Clarke felt his side deserved more from their meeting with in-form League One rivals Barnsley at Brisbane Road.

Jobi McAnuff, Ryan Hedges and Bradley Pritchard were all denied by superb saves from Tykes keeper Adam Davies, before the visitors had Milan Lalkovic sent off for a nasty challenge on Clarke.

The centre-back returned to the action to help preserve his side’s clean sheet as it ended 0-0 and said: “I’ve got a bit of a gash on the shin, but it’s not too bad, I should be ok.

“I’ll look after it, get it iced and I should be okay for Thursday.

East London Advertiser: Luke O'Neill of Leyton Orient (pic: Gavin Ellis/TGSPHOTO)Luke O'Neill of Leyton Orient (pic: Gavin Ellis/TGSPHOTO) (Image: Gavin Ellis/TGSPHOTO c/o 27 Plaiters Way, Braintree, Essex, CM7 3LR - Editorial Use ONLY - FA Premier League and Football Lea...)

“We played some good stuff first half and second half. Late on we caused them some problems and if a bit of luck had went our way we would’ve nicked a goal.

“It’s not just the defenders and the keeper, it’s the team. We certainly worked very hard and we’re delighted to restrict them. They’ve got a couple of strikers in form.

“I think we had some good chances, with Hendo just creeping in at the back stick and Dags as well. If we keep being positive and creating them chances, they’ll start taking them for us.”

Darius Henderson proved a handful for the Barnsley defence, winning numerous aerial challenges to help set up Orient chances.

East London Advertiser: Dean Cox of Leyton Orient rises with Mason Holgate of Barnsley (pic: Gavin Ellis/TGSPHOTO)Dean Cox of Leyton Orient rises with Mason Holgate of Barnsley (pic: Gavin Ellis/TGSPHOTO) (Image: Gavin Ellis/TGSPHOTO c/o 27 Plaiters Way, Braintree, Essex, CM7 3LR - Editorial Use ONLY - FA Premier League and Football Lea...)

The experienced striker also went close himself with a glancing header just past the post and Clarke praised contribution.

He added: “The quality he brings to the squad and side when he is playing is fantastic. “He came under a little bit of stick when he has been playing in the past. He’s certainly with us, gives everything for the team, throws his body in where he can and him and Dags worked well, feeding off each other.

“When you’ve got someone like Hendo you’ve got to use his experience and strengths. I feel we did that.”

There was praise for veteran striker Kevin Lisbie as well, who has joined League Two side Stevenage on a month’s loan deal.

Clarke said he could not blame the Jamaican international for moving on, but paid his own tribute to Lisbie.

He said: “He’s a massive loss to be honest. We wish him well but he needs to be playing, he’s 36 now and he wants to be playing, he’s desperate as anybody.

“The amount of strikers we’ve got and the direction the manager’s going at the moment, he wasn’t really getting a look in, but he was still his confident self in the dressing room and training and will be delighted to get this loan move and get some games.

“He was one of the bigger characters in the club and his experience not just on the pitch but off it, speaking to players, especially young strikers, you can only do well by listening to him.

“I’ve learnt that you can’t go on people’s ages. He was an absolute nightmare in training to play against and you always think he’s 35 or 36 and he’s not going to run away from me.

“But he was one of the guys who could spin in behind and hold the ball up for us. He’ll be a massive miss, but we wish him well.”