Clohessy hits out after Hartlepool horror

Leyton Orient defender Sean Clohessy called their 3-1 loss at League Two strugglers Hartlepool ‘unacceptable’.

The defeat, played out in front of the live Sky Sports TV cameras, left Ian Hendon’s side hanging onto a play-off place, having now taken just five points from their last six matches.

And Clohessy admitted the team must accept full responsibility, saying: “To come here and lose 3-1 is not acceptable.

“It isn’t about personal performances, you want to be playing your best all the time.

“We prepared right for it. We’ve been up here for a couple of days, the gaffer has given us the best preparation, the chairman has given us the best preparation and we’ve let everyone down.

“We’ve had a great following, it’s a long way to come and it’s just truly not acceptable.”

More than 200 Orient fans had to make early starts for the long trip to the North East, after learning that influential midfielder Dean Cox had been ruled out for the season with a cruciate knee ligament injury.

But their mood was lifted as Bradley Pritchard put O’s ahead after just 13 minutes at Victoria Park on his return from suspension.

Alan Dunne was penalised for handball soon after, though, and Kudus Oyenuga levelled, sending young keeper Charlie Grainger – deputising for Alex Cisak, who is away on international duty with Australia – the wrong way from the spot.

Orient had chances to regain the lead in the second half, but Jake Gray’s shot deflected off Dunne to put Pools ahead with 20 minutes remaining.

And Gray struck again with a low drive late on to seal the points for the Ronnie Moore’s men.

Clohessy added: “I can’t even put my finger on it. In the first half we were in control.

“Obviously the penalty changes things, but even then you’re still 1-1 and we’ve had half-chances in the second half.

“Then we’ve conceded the second one and then obviously we’re always chasing the game and that’s the problem.

“When you’re chasing the game you’re obviously open to counter-attacks and they’ve got the third and they deserved the win in the end.”