Nolan: I’ll learn a lot this week
Leyton Orient player-manager Kevin Nolan in action against Barnet (pic: Simon O'Connor). - Credit: Archant
Brisbane Road boss says sorry to Orient fans and insists he is desperate to give them success
Leyton Orient player-manager Kevin Nolan believes now is the time he will learn a lot about himself and his players.
The O’s went down 3-0 on Saturday in League Two against their London rivals Barnet in front of 1,655 away supporters.
John Akinde opened the scoring in the 26th minute when he peeled off Peter Ramage and headed past Alex Cisak, but the visitors had a great chance to equalise just after half time when they were awarded a penalty.
Lloyd James had his spot-kick saved and Curtis Weston scored a deflected second in the 50th minute before Akinde added another just before the hour mark.
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“I said to the lads there is no point me ranting and raving, we’ve just got to assess everything this week and what we’re doing and working towards to make us better,” said Nolan.
“This is when you learn about your players more than anything - when you have these defeats and bad days. Now is when I’ll certainly learn a lot about them and about myself as a manager - this is when you have to dust yourself down.
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“I’ve got to believe in what I’m doing and I do. I’m a confident lad, I’ve said that and I knew I would have ups and downs when I first took the job and this is the down, but what we need to do is battle our way out of it.”
After Akinde’s second, a lot of O’s supporters left the Hive with around half an hour of the match still remaining.
Nolan admitted he has to take it on the chin, but insists he will be doing everything he can go give them success.
He added: “I would say I’m sorry to the supporters that left and possibly if I was a fan watching that and I was as passionate as them and had paid what they’ve paid I might have done the same.
“I’ve got to take what they do on the chin, I need to make sure I believe in what I’m doing and I feel if we continue to work hard and believe in what we’re doing then we’ll get success. Hopefully then they’ll be staying until the 95th minute.”
Orient certainly missed the influence of Jobi McAnuff at Barnet after he was ruled out with a calf problem. The 34-year-old is set to have a scan this week.
Nolan hopes he isn’t anything too bad after Sammy Moore and Jack Payne were unavailable for the clash on Saturday with illness while youngster Aron Pollock had a facial injury.
He added: “I’m hoping Jobi’s injury is not too bad, but he is going in for a scan so we’ll know more this week, but fingers crossed.”