Forward frustrated O’s were beaten at home to Luton Town and knows they must work even harder to turn around poor form

East London Advertiser: Leyton Orient forward Ollie Palmer tries to win the ball in the air ahead of a Luton Town opponent (pic: Simon O'Connor).Leyton Orient forward Ollie Palmer tries to win the ball in the air ahead of a Luton Town opponent (pic: Simon O'Connor). (Image: 07958 573219 simon.oconnor@virgin.net)

Leyton Orient forward Ollie Palmer has extra motivation to carry on finding the net after Saturday’s goal against Luton Town in League Two.

The former Mansfield Town striker netted in the 79th minute at Brisbane Road to reduce the arrears after Cameron McGeehan and Danny Hylton had scored for the Hatters.

After his goal, the 24-year-old lifted his shirt to show the words ‘Get well soon Frankie’ and despite the 2-1 defeat, the Orient forward is determined to keep finding the net for his young cousin.

Palmer said: “Frankie has just been diagnosed with cancer so my family is going through a really hard time at the moment.

“He is really being put through the works. He’s nine-years-old and has been put in a wheelchair and diagnosed with cancer so it is hard times for him, the family and everybody has to support him.

“I just wanted to do the tiniest bit by showing him my support and it was something I wanted to do.

“It is something I’ll keep doing. Whilst I’m on the pitch every goal I score will be for him to make sure he stays positive and knows we are all behind him.”

Palmer’s story about his family member does put things into perspective and shows everything is not always as it seems behind the scenes.

The forward is understood to have gone to great lengths to support his cousin in addition to his goal celebration and all O’s supporters will be hoping to see him find the net regularly now for more reasons than just helping the team.

It was a shame Palmer’s strike on Saturday was a mere consolation because individual errors cost Alberto Cavasin’s players.

Jay Simpson was caught in possession for the first Hatters goal while Yvan Erichot switched off poorly to allow them to double their advantage.

“I think most of the goals have been individual errors, but I’ve not really been on the pitch for the last three or four games so I don’t really want to comment too much because it looks like I’m backstabbing,” said Palmer.

“Obviously I’ve not really been involved so I can only comment on what I’ve been involved in and against Luton it wasn’t good enough. We have lost the game and it is two sloppy goals again.”

Cavasin’s players worked hard to try and turn around the match after going a goal down with half an hour played.

But they couldn’t take their chances with Palmer himself missing an excellent opportunity to open the scoring after 13 minutes.

Jay Simpson had numerous efforts after McGeehan’s goal while Nicky Hunt saw a shot deflected wide when it was still 1-0 to Luton.

Palmer added: “It was hard work with no reward, but it is something we’ve got to turn around and work even harder.

“You can’t just say we’re working hard and not getting what we want. Every team in this league is going to work hard and graft so we’ve got to work that little bit harder.”