Italian delighted with win at Walsall

East London Advertiser: Ryan Hedges scores for Orient at Walsall as Chris Dagnall looks on (pic: Simon O'Connor)Ryan Hedges scores for Orient at Walsall as Chris Dagnall looks on (pic: Simon O'Connor) (Image: Simon O'Connor Photography)

Leyton Orient boss Fabio Liverani hailed his side’s 2-0 win at Walsall as ‘one of the best’ this season.

Ryan Hedges opened his account for the club before setting up Chris Dagnall soon after to seal the points in the Midlands.

And a third victory in four outings helped O’s climb two places to 21st to keep their survival hopes in League One well and truly alive.

Liverani said: “We are growing in performance. I was convinced this was the case even when we were losing games and defensively this was one of the best games of the season.

East London Advertiser: Ryan Hedges celebrates putting Leyton Orient ahead at Walsall (pic: Simon O'Connor)Ryan Hedges celebrates putting Leyton Orient ahead at Walsall (pic: Simon O'Connor) (Image: Simon O'Connor Photography)

“This is something I have stressed to repeat since I arrived, especially when we were talking about the transfer window in January.

“I think our first acquisitions of our own players, their confidence is back at the moment. We have quality and I’m very pleased with my players.”

Young midfielder Hedges received special praise after firing home left-footed, then playing in Dagnall for his 10th of the season.

Liverani added: “He is a player full of potential. He has got great qualities and is growing as a player.

“I’m pleased because we scouted him, so thanks to the chief scout for pointing out that player.

“We’re pleased with his performance and the way he is improving.”

A second successive clean sheet, following the 3-0 home success over Oldham a week earlier, also pleased Italian boss Liverani with leaders Bristol City next up at Brisbane Road in midweek.

He said: “English football is a very intense, physical game, but if we start to improve our attention to the second ball to prevent it before it happens then they can perform even better.”

But Liverani also confirmed that players and staff had not yet been paid this month, after reports in other media.

He said: “There has been a slight delay due to a transfer from a foreign bank account, which took longer than expected.

“There has been a lot of attention about this. In Italy we get money every four months.

“We understand it is different in England, but it is not a big problem.”