Brisbane Road outfit haven’t scored first in a match since beating Bristol Rovers on August 29

East London Advertiser: Leyton Orient's Mathieu Baudry celebrates his goal against Carlisle (pic: Simon O'Connor)Leyton Orient's Mathieu Baudry celebrates his goal against Carlisle (pic: Simon O'Connor) (Image: Simon O'Connor Photography)

Leyton Orient will be delighted to see the back of September after a frustrating second month of the season where they failed to win a single game in all competitions.

The first month of the campaign ended up as Amazing August with five victories in a row in League Two sending Ian Hendon’s side to the summit, but September has been more difficult.

What has changed? Well, in their most recent five league matches the O’s failed to score first in any of them. In their opening defeat of the campaign at Exeter City, the hosts got in front first and Orient couldn’t respond.

After that, draws against Cambridge United, Wycombe Wanderers and Northampton Town followed, which were all respectable and solid results.

But the pattern was the O’s conceding first before coming from behind to get a point and the same happened on Tuesday against the Cumbrians, albeit without rescuing a point.

Carlisle took the lead in the 62nd minute through Derek Asamoah after Hendon’s side had dominated possession and had numerous chances.

Although Mathieu Baudry got O’s level again, the visitors managed to score a second and, despite more pressure, the hosts fell to a second loss of the League Two campaign.

Next up they face Notts County at home on Saturday and the Orient captain believes getting the first goal of the match is key and he’s right.

“It is important to get the first goal against Notts County because if we manage to do that the away team has to come at us,” said Baudry.

“That will give us more space and with our quality, we showed what we can do against Stevenage in August.

“The game was goalless and then when we scored first our quality shone through and we were able to finish them off, so the games at Brisbane Road are all going to be the same.”

Although it may seem very simple, getting the opening goal does change everything. Orient have come close, but not managed to do that since beating Bristol Rovers at home on August 29.

You can’t really fault the way the O’s are playing, they are enjoying lots of possession, getting crosses into the box and creating chances, but failing to take them at the moment.

Baudry did manage to score against Carlisle, but Jay Simpson, Ollie Palmer and Bradley Pritchard should have all found the net beforehand.

In almost every match this campaign, Hendon’s side have had a lion’s share of possession and been able to turn that into chances. What has let them down at times, however, is a lack of concentration at the back and Baudry accepts they need to get better in that area.

He said: “We did switch off against Carlisle and that is the problem when we have got a lot of possession. When you feel like you are the better team you believe nothing bad can happen to you, but that is when we need to stay switched on.”

Orient know where they need to improve and now need to put that into practice with Saturday a great opportunity to show it.