Brisbane Road boss discusses victory at Newport and Alex Cisak’s international call-up

Leyton Orient head coach Ian Hendon believes he learned a lot about his squad at Newport after they survived a fight back by Terry Butcher’s team to take all three points back to east London on Saturday.

When Paul McCallum and Jay Simpson scored inside the first seven minutes at Rodney Parade it looked like being a comfortable afternoon for the O’s.

But the Exiles hit back before the break and levelled when Mark Byrne rifled into the net from outside the box.

Hendon wasn’t happy with that goal, but was pleased everybody played their part in South Wales to earn Orient another victory.

“I think you learn a lot about your whole squad in games like Newport. You are two nil up and then you are up against it with your backs to the wall a little bit,” said Hendon.

“The substitutes and the squad players played their part again and you do learn an awful lot about your players in matches like Saturday.

“Newport got the one and then the second, which we could have done a lot better with. We didn’t shut the lad down in midfield and he has hit a strike that has basically gone in the middle of the goal.

“Alex Cisak did make a great save to keep it two all. Let’s not forget we had some great chances in the game as well, especially in the first half.”

Orient really should have killed the game off after going two goals ahead as they missed a host of chances during the first half before Newport made their sloppiness pay.

But Hendon believes it will serve as a warning for his team in the future, adding: “The match should have been dead and buried at 2-0 to be honest.

“We let them back in the game, we let them off the hook but that is football. It is a kick up the backside and let’s hope it doesn’t happen again.”

The O’s boss also discussed what many think could be a problem for his side in the coming weeks.

Cisak will miss the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy clash at Luton Town on September 1 and the league fixture with Exeter City on September 5 because he is away with Australia on international duty.

But Hendon has complete faith in young stopper Charlie Grainger and the more experienced Gary Woods, he added: “I don’t think Alex missing is a problem really because we have two other goalkeepers at the club so it is not a problem.

“They are here and they are paid to do a job. They are goalkeepers so one will be going in at Exeter and then in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.”