Former Redbridge Forest ace discusses performance of French forward, Ollie Palmer and Mathieu Baudry
Leyton Orient caretaker Andy Hessenthaler was pleased Armand Gnanduillet found the net on Saturday, but equally gutted Ollie Palmer didn’t.
The O’s ended a difficult week with all three points against Dagenham & Redbridge and relegated their rivals from League Two in the process.
Jay Simpson found the net twice in the first half before the visitors scored two times in the space of a minute after the break.
Gnanduillet put the hosts back ahead in the 65th minute, but it was met with a mixed reaction from the Orient supporters before he was substituted immediately after the goal for Palmer.
“It was just rotation picking Armand ahead of Ollie. They are similar strikers in terms of stature,” said Hessenthaler. “Armand got frustrated, but I’m pleased he got his goal. I was absolutely devastated Ollie didn’t get his because the goalkeeper has made a great save with the header.
“You could say he should score from there, but it is a good save and then he has the chance where he tried to lob it over the goalkeeper, but it got cleared off the line. I felt for Ollie.
“He’s been one of our best performers over the last few weeks, but amongst ourselves and the owner, we felt starting Armand over Ollie was the change to make.
“With Ollie he’s never really got going in terms of goals, but he always affects the game and he did on Saturday. You can never fault his effort, but he just needs a run of goals. I’m sure it will come.”
It was a surprise to see Palmer benched in favour of Gnanduillet, but the French forward vindicated the decision by playing a part in all three Orient goals.
The 24-year-old was making his first start since the 2-0 loss to Hartlepool United on March 28 and despite his strike, frustrated on occasions.
Another person returning to the team for the first time in a while was captain Mathieu Baudry following his four-match suspension.
He suffered a head injury in the first half, but battled on – although he was at fault for the opener from ex-O’s forward Jamie Cureton.
“Mathieu has another cut, he has that soft skin. I said you need to get skin like me, the rhino skin and a few wrinkles,” joked Hessenthaler.
“If he had that he wouldn’t get cut so much! He will be ok for Tuesday against Plymouth Argyle, it was just a little wound and he’ll have a few stitches.
“At times he thinks he is Franz Beckenbauer, he overdoes it and he knows because we tell him. He has a lot of confidence, but you’ve got to be careful when you’re playing against a striker that has played so many games and scored so many goals in Jamie Cureton.
“Jamie is a clever player, read the situation and we got caught out. Dagenham got back in the game, it gave them confidence and they get the next goal. It could have been anything in the end, but fortunately for us we got the win.”
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