Brisbane Road boss backs England under-19 stopper and praises Scott Kashket

East London Advertiser: Orient's Scott Kashket holds off an MK Dons rival (pic: Simon O'Connor)Orient's Scott Kashket holds off an MK Dons rival (pic: Simon O'Connor) (Image: Simon O'Connor Photography)

Charlie Grainger is expected to make his league debut for Leyton Orient tomorrow (Saturday) at Exeter City after head coach Ian Hendon refuted claims the young goalkeeper could have done better at Luton Town on Tuesday.

The O’s went out of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy after losing 2-1 at Kenilworth Road – a match where Grainger and four others made their debuts for the club.

Grainger could do little about either goal and although he didn’t have much to do, what the young stopper did, he did with the minimum of fuss.

Hendon said: “No I am not really disappointed with the manner of the goals. The first one I have got to be honest I haven’t seen it, but it looked like it went in the top corner.

“The second one has got a huge deflection and that has gone in the top corner. We blocked the initial shot from the free kick and the lad has hit it again and it has taken a deflection and gone in.

“Sometimes you can’t do a lot about that and it was a bitter pill to swallow right at the death because it looked like it was going to penalties.

“There was absolutely nothing Charlie could do about the second one and the first, the way Danny Green hit that, I don’t think there would have been too many who would have stopped that.”

One youngster that again caught the eye on Tuesday at Luton was attacker Scott Kashket, who started his second game of the season.

The 19-year-old won the penalty which Lloyd James converted against the Hatters and also had an effort cleared off the line at Kenilworth Road too.

His performance, especially in the second period, was a big positive and Hendon praised his honesty too after not going down in the first half after clashing with home captain Steve McNulty in the box.

“Scott did look really good second half. He is sharp and has got that low centre of gravity. He causes defenders problems and got us the penalty,” added the O’s boss.

“I think first half he was unfortunate when he got in. The centre half has had a little grapple with him and to be fair to the kid he did the right thing by trying to stay on his feet.

“A lot of players would have tried to win a penalty and he probably would have done had he gone down, but fair play to him. He was honest and tried to do it properly.”