Justin Edinburgh impressed with the response of his Leyton Orient players during Ebbsfleet United draw after midweek FA Trophy exit
Leyton Orient head coach Justin Edinburgh looks on from the touchline against Gateshead (pic: Simon O'Connor). - Credit: Archant
It has been a bad couple of weeks for the Brisbane Road club, but despite conceding an early goal against the Fleet, they fought back to earn a point
Justin Edinburgh praised the character of his Leyton Orient players after they fought back from a poor start to draw at home to Ebbsfleet United following a tough couple of weeks for the club.
Since February 24, when the O’s threw away a three-goal lead in the quarter-finals of the FA Trophy to draw 3-3 with Gateshead, they’ve lost 1-0 to a late goal at Dover Athletic (March 3) and exited the Trophy on Tuesday after a 3-2 defeat in the North East.
When the Fleet took a 15th minute lead through Corey Whitely, many fans could be forgiven for thinking the worst.
Orient fought back well though, with Ebbsfleet captain Dave Winfield firing a cross from James Brophy past his own goalkeeper with 32 minutes played.
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Both sides looked to create a third goal of the contest afterwards, but the National League encounter finished 1-1 to move O’s nine points clear of the bottom four.
Edinburgh said: “We needed a response and we were disappointed in ourselves (after the Gateshead defeat).
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“We are hurting because we’ve let situations pass us by and that’s very disappointing and we accept that and we’ve spoken about that in the week.
“We got back to the training ground on Thursday morning and we addressed a lot of things and I think the players have given me a response today and I’m pleased.
“No one likes to have questioned posed about them and that includes me, my staff, my players and us as a club, so I’m pleased with the response.”
A draw was a fair result in the end with both goalkeepers having little to do throughout the clash at Brisbane Road.
Orient seemed the most likely to grab a winner in the dying exchanges, but one final opportunity never occurred.
“I believe it was the right result,” said Edinburgh. “Certainly second half we played a lot more of the game in the oppositions half.
“I don’t think we had too many clear-cut chances, but as the game went on, I felt we might get an opportunity to nick it, but it wasn’t to be and on reflection, it was a fair result.”
After a tough couple of weeks, Orient will look to back up this draw with a victory at home to Torquay United on Tuesday.
Edinburgh added: “This is the first setback we’ve had since we’ve been together as a group – surrendering a lead at home to Gateshead, conceding a late goal at Dover and doing the same in the FA Trophy replay on Tuesday – but the response was positive.
“I thought we showed bravely and passed the ball well on a difficult surface and I’m pleased with the players.”
