Slade praise for returning striker

Leyton Orient manager Russell Slade praised Chris Dagnall after the striker scored twice to help the O’s defeat Johnstone’s Paint Trophy holders Peterborough last night.

Dagnall scored twice at the start of each half before assisting Bradley Pritchard’s third as Orient defeated their League One rivals 3-2 at London Road to progress to the next round of the Southern Section.

And Slade praised the performance of the 28-year-old Dagnall, who was making his first start of the season.

“I am really pleased for him,” said the delighted O’s boss. “It was his first start and he was doing really well pre-season, but copped a bit of an injury in one of the games.

“He is just getting his way back now ,but to come back into the game and score two like that, we’re really pleased, and he made the third.”

Slade was impressed with the resilience his side showed, especially after Romain Vincelot picked up two yellow cards in quick succession in the second period to leave Orient to finish the game with 10 men.

The O’s chief disagreed with the second booking the French midfielder received as the incident occurred close to his touchline area.

“I was really pleased with the resilience, particularly when we went down to 10 men,” he added.

“I thought we had a really good spell at the start of the second half which got us in front.

“Yes it was frustrating (the sending off), you don’t want that, you don’t want to encourage the opposition when you are 3-1 up away from home.

“However, I didn’t think it was a yellow card, I suppose there is a little bit of contact there, but I don’t think there was any intent.”

Last night’s cup win extends the O’s unbeaten record to seven games, a run that has included the scalp of Premier League Aston Villa and games against the top two in League One – Fleetwood and Peterborough.

Slade believes his side are improving constantly and wants them to keep that run going when they resume league action after the international break.

He added: “We are improving all the time. We are making changes, for one reason or another we have had to make changes, but it is seven unbeaten and we have to keep that going.”