Cambridge United1 Leyton Orient1 (Coca Cola League Two)

ORIENT: Morris, Miller, White, Zakuani, Lockwood, Carlisle, Simpson, Hunt, Scott (sub: Newey 87mins), Steele, Ibehre (Purser 87).

ORIENT boss Martin Ling was a much happier man on Tuesday evening as his side banished the memories of their woeful performance at home to Macclesfield with an encouraging display at Cambridge, writes Leo Tyrie.

Justin Walker's back post header on 51 minutes cancelled out Andy Scott's fine first half goal as the O's were denied the chance to claim all three points, but Ling was still satisfied with his team's efforts.

He said: "It was much better than Saturday, especially in the first half when we controlled the game.

"There was a tempo to our play and there was more purpose about us, and even their manager said we outplayed them.

"It's testament to our performance that they had to change their system three times to try and break us down.

"Just one bit of sloppy play on a set piece when David Hunt let his runner go has cost us and that's the only downside of today's performance.

"It was a big thing not to lose tonight in everyone's mind because we needed to get on the board.

"One point from two games was not the kind of start we were looking for, but from the shambles of the second half on Saturday to this performance shows the highs and lows of football."

Injuries to John Mackie and Donny Barnard meant Ling had to shuffle his pack in defence, but youngster Gabriel Zakuani and Justin Miller, playing in an unfamiliar right-back role, both slotted into the team seamlessly.

"The two players I brought into the back line did themselves many favours. I thought Zakuani was outstanding, Miller had a good game at right back and Jabo wasn't too bad up front either.

"I had to make three changes and I said to them two weeks ago that we've only got a 20-man squad and every one of them will be needed, and when people come into the team like they have done today I'm happy."

The visitors dominated proceedings before the break and were unlucky not to be more than one up at the interval.

Scott struck the left-hand post on 37 minutes, but he went one better four minutes later to round off an excellent team move.

Lee Steele, with nothing appearing to be on, scooped the ball up for Jabo Ibehre to head the ball into Scott's path, and the former Oxford man rammed home a volley at the near post.

Cambridge responded by changing to a 5-3-2 formation at the break and it soon brought reward when, six minutes into the second half, Walker rose at the far post to convert Luke Guttridge's corner.

Both sides had chances to win in a more even second period, but in the end both had to settle for a point apiece.