Leyton Orient 1-0 Bradford City, League Two: report, ratings and verdict

VS.

Leyton Orient 4-2-3-1

1

0

Bradford City 3-4-1-2

Half Time: 0 - 0 Brisbane Road ( Attendance: NA )
1 min

Leyton Orient beat Bradford City 1-0 at Brisbane Road to move within a point and place of the League Two Play-Off spots.

Bradford had the first chance of the game when Connor Wood picked up a Billy Clarke header but the midfielder could only direct his effort wide of the post after 12 minutes.

And five minutes later a deflection off Josh Coulson forced a diving save from his keeper Lawrence Vigouroux as Bradford continued to turn the screw.

However, the O’s were much improved after the interval with James Brophy sneaking in behind the Bradford defence immediately after the restart only for the ball to eventually slide across the six yard box and out for a corner.

The deadlock was broken just past the hour mark though when Dan Happe leapt the tallest to head home Jordan Maguire-Drew’s set-piece.

Substitute Maguire-Drew could have sealed the game in the 71st minute but his free-kick only found the side netting before Bradford began to pile on the pressure in search of an equaliser.

But Leyton Orient held on to secure all three points and back-to-back home wins to move up to eighth in the table.

Key Points

Check out all the key talking points and reaction from London Football Scene below…

Key Moment

Dan Happe’s header brought the game to life after Orient had found themselves under the cosh in the opening period.

Moan of the Match

Jordan Maguire-Drew’s second-half introduction changed the game for Orient – he surely should have been starting.

Talking Point

Could Leyton Orient build on these back-to-back home wins and mount a serious promotion push?

Man of the Match

Jordan Maguire-Drew – the Leyton Orient midfielder provided a vital assist and came close to doubling the O’s lead shortly after his introduction.

Tweet of the Match

Referee Watch

Sam Allison (Wiltshire) – made all the right calls, particularly for two big Leyton Orient second-half free-kicks.

Atmosphere

The roaring of the air humidifier behind the press box made several journalists think they were going to be run over by a lawnmower at any point.

Verdict

The O’s were slow to get a handle on the game but look a well oiled machine once they got going.

Line Ups

Leyton Orient 4-2-3-1

Vigouroux; Ling, Coulson, Happe, Widdowson; Cisse, Kyprianou (McAnuff, 65); Wilkinson (Maguire-Drew, 46), Dennis (Wright, 76), Brophy (Akinola 90+3); Johnson

Subs not used:

Sargeant, Dayton, Thomas

Bradford City 3-4-1-2

O’Donnell; A O’Connor, P O’Connor, Staunton (Richards-Everton, 55); French, Sutton, Watt, Wood; Clarke (Scales, 61); Samuels (Mottley- Henry, 80), Donaldson

Subs not used:

Longridge, Hornby, Cousin-Dawson, Ismail

Booked

French, Staunton, A O’Connor

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