Hendon disappointed with Crawley loss but focused on Orient job
Leyton Orient head coach Ian Hendon (pic: Simon O'Connor). - Credit: Archant
Brisbane Road boss reflects on frustrating 3-2 defeat at Crawley Town and discusses his old manager at West Ham taking the Sunderland job
Leyton Orient players celebrate after Jay Simpson opens the scoring against Crawley Town (pic: Simon O'Connor). - Credit: Archant
Leyton Orient boss Ian Hendon cut a frustrated figure following Saturday’s defeat to Crawley Town in League Two and then had to face questions about whether he could join his old manager Sam Allardyce at Sunderland.
The 43-year-old was disappointed his team failed to make the most of the chances they created after Jay Simpson put them ahead at Broadfield Stadium with just eight minutes on the clock.
Leyton Orient goalkeeper Alex Cisak has his goal put under pressure at Crawley (pic: Simon O'Connor). - Credit: Archant
And they were punished in the 27th minute for their missed opportunities when Roarie Deacon levelled it up almost from nowhere before Mitch Hancox put the Red Devils ahead eight minutes before the break.
Things went from bad to worst on the stroke of half time as well when Alan Dunne was adjudged to have fouled former Dagenham & Redbridge forward Rhys Murphy inside the box.
Leyton Orient defender Alan Dunne is shown a red card for fouling Crawley Town's Rhys Murphy inside the penalty area (pic: Simon O'Connor). - Credit: Archant
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Referee Kevin Wright dismissed the experienced defender and Simon Walton converted the spot-kick to put Crawley 3-1 up.
Although Simpson reduced the arrears eight minutes from time, Orient couldn’t salvage a point and suffered their third loss of the campaign.
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Hendon said: “I thought we were the team in the ascendancy in the second half with 10. Obviously I am not happy with the result and my players because when we had 11 men we never took advantage of the possession and chances we had.
“We come out second half and showed, albeit we are three one down and you might say it is easy to play then, we came out and showed what we are about.”
The Orient boss was then asked if he would be joining his former manager Allardyce at the Stadium of Light.
But Hendon insisted he is fully focused on the job at Brisbane Road and not linking up with the former West Ham manager, adding: “I speak to Sam and I have been to lunch with him a few times since he has been on his break, but I have had no contact with him since he took the job.
“I am concentrating on Leyton Orient. He hasn’t spoken to me about going to Sunderland and 2. I am concentrating on the job I have got here.”
Hendon, who worked alongside Allardyce at West Ham, does believe his old boss can help Sunderland avoid relegation from the Premier League this year.
“I think it is a great appointment for Sunderland and his record speaks for itself,” said the O’s head coach.
“He has not been relegated from the Premier League. It is going to be a tough job and he definitely knows that, but he has the experience and the knowhow. I am sure he will go in there, stabilise them and get them climbing the league.”
