Leyton Orient 2-0 Barrow, League Two: report, ratings and verdict

VS.

Leyton Orient 4-2-3-1

2

0

Barrow AFC 4-4-2

Half Time: 0 - 0 Brisbane Road ( Attendance: 6,032 (382) )
1 min

Leyton Orient put their League Two relegation fears to bed with a comfortable 2-0 home win over strugglers Barrow, courtesy of goals from Paul Smyth and Ruel Sotiriou.

Sotiriou has been key for the O’s in recent weeks under new boss Richie Wellens and once again proved integral in the opening 45 minutes.

The Cypriot rattled the crossbar with a sumptuous free-kick just after the half-hour mark before seeing a header turned behind by Barrow goalkeeper Paul Farman shortly after, in what were the best opportunities of the opening period.

Six of the seven goals Orient had scored under Wellens before this game had come in the second-half and that pattern continued shortly after the break.

Connor Wood played a ball in behind Barrow’s defence for Paul Smyth to round Farman and produce a sumptuous dinked finish from a seemingly impossible angle to open the scoring.

And Sotiriou doubled Orient’s advantage just after the hour mark when he showed great composure to control the ball from a low free-kick and slot home.

Wellens’ side then demonstrated their improving game management to comfortably see out the remaining minutes and ensure another impressive victory.

Key Points

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

Key Moment

Paul Smyth’s moment of genius to break the deadlock was worthy of winning any game. 

Moan of the Match

Could Orient start games with the same intensity and purpose that they finish them with?

Talking Point

Five games unbeaten with very little time to work on the training ground, how far can Richie Wellens take this Orient side?

Man of the Match

Ruel Sotiriou – the 21-year-old was once again the standout for the O’s, looking lively throughout and netting a seventh goal in eight to put the game beyond doubt.

Tweet of the Match

Referee Watch

Simon Mather (Manchester) – a little whistle happy at times but got the key decisions correct.

Atmosphere

The sell-out crowd seemed to thoroughly enjoy their afternoon in the E10 sunshine watching the new look O’s.

Verdict

A third consecutive win for the first time in over a year, the Richie revolution is well and truly underway in East London.

Line Ups

Leyton Orient 4-2-3-1

Vigouroux; Thompson (Ray, 84), Beckles, Ogie, Wood; Pratley, Kyprianou; Archibald (Smith, 81), Smyth (Khan, 85), Sotiriou; Drinan

Subs not used:

Sargeant, Nouble, Young, Coleman

Booked

Pratley, Beckles

Barrow AFC 4-4-2

Farman; Hutton, Platt, Canavan, Brough; Rooney, Banks, Taylor (White, 67), Gotts (Driscoll-Glennon, 83); Gordon (Kay, 67), Amadi-Holloway

Subs not used:

Lillis, Jones, Sea

Booked

Brough, Taylor, Rooney, Canavan, White

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