Jobi McAnuff was satisfied with a clean sheet in Leyton Orient’s 0-0 League Two draw with Stevenage on Tuesday night.
This was McAnuff’s first home match since taking over as interim manager following the sacking of Ross Embleton 10 days ago, following a 1-0 win away win at Grimsby and a 4-0 drubbing at Exeter, but the game proved to be a lacklustre affair with neither team able to find the breakthrough.
The visitors created the better of few real first-half chances in a turgid 45 minutes, bringing two good saves from Lawrence Vigouroux.
The Os keeper was positioned to collect a well-directed downward header from Luke Norris and then palmed away a point-blank powerful header from the Stevenage man.
Conor Wilkinson provided Orient’s only riposte, although his shot from distance failed to find the target.
Both teams hit the woodwork after the break. Ben Coker rattled the crossbar with a 20-yard free-kick on 53 minutes before a fierce drive by Dan Kemp struck the upright to deny the home side the lead on 77 minutes.
But it was Orient substitute Dan Johnson who squandered the best chance of the match. The striker had only been on the pitch for five minutes when he seized on a poor back pass but, with only keeper Jamie Chapman to beat, shot hopelessly wide.
“First and foremost we have got ourselves back on track,” McAnuff said.
“We didn’t quite have that end product tonight although we got into some good areas.
“We adjusted it at times and had a couple of good opportunities so overall I am satisfied with the reaction after Saturday’s disappointment at Exeter.
“Goals are hard to come by for everyone at the moment and we found a bit of space towards the end of the game. It’s important we have competition for places and it’s just not quite going in for us but we will keep working.
“We have had limited time to work with the lads because of the matches and the travelling, so it’s a case of giving as many instructions as we can without overloading the players. The play-offs, though, still have to remain our target.
“The more that we can get positive performances and positive results, then we give ourselves something we can build on.”
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