Orient boss didn’t feel red card was key
Leyton Orient head coach Ian Hendon (pic: Simon O'Connor). - Credit: Archant
Oxford United were reduced to 10 men in the second half and the O’s came back to earn a 2-2 draw
Oxford United's Jordan Graham delivers a free kick against Leyton Orient (pic: Simon O'Connor). - Credit: Archant
Leyton Orient head coach Ian Hendon didn’t feel the red card to Oxford United’s Jordan Graham made too much of a difference on Saturday during the 2-2 draw at Brisbane Road.
The O’s trailed by two goals at the break after Kemar Roofe scored from close range following a Mathieu Baudry mistake and John Lundstram had an effort deflected past home custodian Alex Cisak.
Leyton Orient forward Jay Simpson runs off after scoring against Oxford United (pic: Simon O'Connor). - Credit: Archant
It wasn’t going well for the east Londoners, but Jay Simpson reduced the arrears in the 64th minute before moments later things got better for Orient.
Graham received a second yellow from referee Ross Joyce after kicking the ball away and Oxford were down to 10-men.
Leyton Orient's Sean Clohessy looks to beat his Oxford United opponent (pic: Simon O'Connor). - Credit: Archant
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Hendon’s men pushed for the equaliser and it eventually come when Scott Kashket rifled in off the post in the first minute of injury time.
He said: “We said at half time we need to get the first goal and let’s see what they do, do they drop off and try to take the pressure that we are going to put on them?
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“You can only play against what is out there whether it was 10 or 11, but that didn’t matter to me.
“I was just really pleased with the attitude of the players in the second half, especially the substitutes that came on.
“Jack Payne was disappointed at being left out as was Ollie Palmer and then Scotty Kashket came on and obviously scored.”
The changes the O’s boss made were key behind them getting back into the League Two match against the Yellows.
Payne and Palmer came on at the break and Orient ditched the 4-4-2 formation and went with three in midfield.
That allowed full backs Adam Chicksen and Sean Clohessy to get forward more and have the cover behind them.
Hendon: “We set out a team and we set it out to try and win a game, some people say we need width, but we didn’t get that from our wingers.
“Second half Sean got forward and delivered balls and Chicksen delivered balls so we were much better second period.
“I said in my programme notes before the game after 12 matches if we had said we are two points off the automatic places we would have taken it.
“It is a long season and I still believe we will get back to winning ways and get on a run and it is how far they want to take it.”