ORIENT ended a damaging four game winless streak by sinking troubled Plymouth and getting the play-off push back on track in convincing fashion, tonight.
Scott McGleish hit his 201st professional goal, after making the landmark figure last weekend. It was apt his goal at the Matchroom Stadium this evening was the early one which settled nerves after a poor run of results for boss Russell Slade's side.
Dean Cox was the architect with his deep cross on five minutes, which Jimmy Smith nodded into the mixer from the touch line for McGleish to head easily into the corner. It was the veteran's seventeenth goal of yet another productive season.
Then it was Cox's turn to get the scorecard, nine minutes later. He was cool to slide his close range effort beneath keeper David Button from Alex Revell squared the ball to him on the break.
The hard work done, the hosts protected their lead comfortably against a weak Plymouth team.
The game ended badly for Revell, who left the field on a stretcher just before the break. Attempting to gather ball after a weak first touch, he stretched and contorted his leg to collapse on the ground.
This result has the O's just three points shy of Bournemouth, who occupy the fourth and final play-off place.
Plymouth were so poor during the first half hour of this game: zero cohesion and enormous vulnerable to an incisive pass. They were shockingly exposed on the break too whenever they foraged tentatively forward in search of something.
It was a quiet night for Jamie Jones in the Orient goal, which he would have been grateful for after the howler at Charlton last weekend. There was little call for him to use his skills, but he was in the right place on 71 minutes to save Stéphane Zubar's header. The cross was delivered from the right by Bolasie and ranked as the visitors' best chance of the night.
After being mainly dreadful in the first half, Plymouth got a foothold in the game worthy of their vocal fans. High balls into the box brought Jones out to collect and Orient's backline came under strain. But still there was scant sign of a breakthrough for the visitors.
Orient were composed at the back with a backline featuring Elliot Omozusi and Adam Barrett at centre-back. Charlie Daniels was his usual tenacious self, whipping one pass across the face of goal during the second half which was just begging for McGleish's out-stretched toe to pick it in.
Mission accomplished for the hosts at the Matchroom Stadium, then. This game was vital to win and Orient were comfortable in doing just that this evening.
Jones, Omozusi, Whing, Cox, Dawson (capt), McGleish (Kane), Chambers, Revell (Téhoué 40), Daniels, Smith, Barrett.
Unused subs: Forbes, Butcher (gk), Crowe, Carroll, Mpoku, Kane.
Attendance: 3,255 including 449 Spurs fans.
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