Ling feeling bitter over Whitbread’s winner for Millwall

3:09pm Wednesday 5th December 2007

Leyton Orient 0
Millwall 1
(League One)

MILLWALL'S Zak Whitbread netted the only goal as a below par Orient slipped to a disappointing defeat, in what manager Martin Ling described as their worst performance of the season', writes Joseph Manning.

He said: "It was probably our worst performance of the season so far.

"We only had eight shots on goal which isn't good enough and I told my players to go home and have a good look in the mirror at themselves. I doubt there are many that can say to themselves that they had a good game.

"Every time we've suffered a setback this season though we have responded positively and having started what is a big month for us poorly I'm looking for us to bounce back with a positive display against Cheltenham."

A lively start to the game from both sides saw an early chance fall to debutant Andy Barcham. A perfect through ball from Boyd sent the on-loan Spurs man clear, he took the ball round Danny Senda and unleashed a powerful shot, unfortunately it was just the wrong side of the post.

The visitors roared into lead after just nine minutes. Bryan Hodge swung in a free-kick from the right and Ali Fuseini knocked the ball into the path of Whitbread who fired into the top corner of the net.

Adam Chambers made a darting run before sending a long ball forward, which Paul Terry knocked down to Barcham who's shot and looked a certain goal but for an excellent block by Paul Robinson.

At the other end Neil Harris sent over a cross from the right on 33 minutes, that former O's striker Gary Alexander narrowly headed wide.

With two minutes remaining in the first half Barcham made an electric burst around the visitors defence, but his terrific strike was just about block by keeper Lenny Pidgeley's legs.

Orient started the second half brightly with Adam Chambers' shot being blocked and scrambled away in the opening minute. Five minutes later Barcham smacked the ball from 20 yards out but it ended up just over the bar.

Will Hoskins had a chance on the hour mark, when he took the ball on his chest before sending a volley just wide. Orient's Boyd then supplied a flick onto Terry who put in a low cross, which was struck wide by Wayne Gray.

Millwall sub Jay Simpson went very close on 71 minutes, after he played a neat one-two with Fuseini before letting fly with a powerful shot that brought an exceptional save from Glenn Morris.

Millwall's time wasting tactics did not pay off as keeper Pidgeley was booked with ten minutes to go.

Morris was again called into action deep into stoppage time, when an excellent break by Simpson left him through on goal, but the Orient stopper was equal to the striker with a fine save.

Then right at the death Boyd flashed one just wide from distance to cap a miserable night for the O's.

Orient: Morris, Purches, Thelwell, Mkandawire, Daniels, Barcham, Terry, Chambers, Demetriou (Echanomi 72), Gray, Boyd. Unused: Nelson, Saah, Palmer, Shields.

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