O’s boss reflects on terrible night in Lancashire and discusses taking the youngsters out of the firing line

Leyton Orient manager Danny Webb hopes yesterday’s 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Accrington Stanley can be a learning curve for his players as they look all but relegated with nine League Two matches remaining.

The O’s fell behind in the 44th minute when Billy Kee headed in the opener and it well and truly opened the floodgates at the Crown Ground as the east Londoners were second best through the second half.

Matty Pearson struck twice after the break while Sean McConville curled one strike into the top corner and smashed another effort against the crossbar, which rebounded off Charlie Grainger and in.

Webb said: “I’ve got to be careful how I manage the youngsters on an individual basis. I have got to talk to them and put my arm around them.

“It is the same for the older lads as well. I was disappointed when it went to 3-0 that it just became a bit of a free-for-all.

“As much as I want to play attacking football – players have got to learn and realise when you have to narrow up and tuck in and get the night over with.

“Unfortunately we went a little bit Wild West with everything and it just opened up the floodgates.”

The Orient boss was forced into one change before half time as Nicky Hunt had to come off with an injury.

But Webb took off Freddy Moncur at the break and Sam Dalby soon after the restart at Accrington.

When asked whether he might take a few of the youngsters out of the firing line, the O’s manager said: “Yes I think so.

“I tried to do that with Freddy at half time because he was having a tough time and Dalby rolled his ankle, but he was having a tough night.

“Myles (Judd) is working his absolute socks off, but he had a tough night, so they have all had a tough night.

“We have to make sure we don’t start throwing things at them and I will say it again, but when I took over we were second bottom and on a real downward spiral.

“You can’t forget that there were a lot of people who have gone before us player-wise and they have now sailed off into the sunset.

“These boys here now are trying their best to pick up the baton, but it is a shame they have to go through nights like this.

“Over the course of the season there have been a lot of nights, despite the scoreline, that have damaged the club.”

Webb admitted the 5-0 loss was his lowest night in football and conceded he is doing his best to reassure the players about the future.

Next Monday Orient are due in court over a winding-up petition and they have now fallen to the bottom of the Football League.

“It was a very hurtful night and it was certainly my lowest night in football. I haven’t been in it long from the management side of things, but even after Stevenage (4-1 loss) and Grimsby Town (3-0 defeat), I didn’t feel like this,” said Webb.

“Obviously it is hard because I am trying to take on a lot and trying to carry things on my shoulders and reassure players about winding-up orders and reassure myself really because I haven’t got a clue what is going on.

“The whole thing is testing when really all we should be worried about is setting a team up to win a game of football.”

Newport County leapfrogged Orient last night after claiming a 1-0 victory at Morecambe to make it back-to-back wins since Graham Westley left the club.