2022 - A Year In The Life Of A Leyton Orient Supporter as it happened Other years: 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Leyton Orient Diary part 1 to 1925 Part 2 from 1950 Part 2a from 1965 Part 2b from 1968 Part 2c from 1973 Part 2d from 1996 Part 3 from 2009 Previous year We started the year in 10th place on 31 points. 1 January. The home match against Bristol Rovers was called off at 10am. Some players of theirs woke up with covid like symptoms but it seems took no tests! Maguire-Drew had an eventful match at home for Grimsby. He started his first game for a long time, got booked, hit the crossbar and headed home a 90+1 equaliser. Alabi also started for Bromley at Maidenhead but his team lost to the only goal of the match. Dennis did not feature. He did against Southend but was substituted at half time in the Boxing Day match at home. They also have a Dennis playing and Matthew equalised for the Seasiders on 67’. Strangely he was also substituted. Both teams also had a Coulson playing for them. Our ex man Josh came on after 58’. 5 January. Norwich recalled Omotoye and loaned him to Carlisle. He played five(2) games without scoring. Only 1(2) in the league. In his first match he played 75’ as they beat Bradford 2-0. Liverpool’s successful application to postpone their EFL Cup semi-final first- leg tie against Arsenal has caused anger at Leyton Orient. The League Two side were kicked out of the competition in September 2020 after a coronavirus outbreak in their squad forced their tie with Tottenham to be postponed. The club’s goalkeeper, and incidentally former Liverpool youngster, Lawrence Vigouroux tweeted: “Interesting when we were in the same position before a Carabao Cup tie against Spurs last season?” Told by one Liverpool fan it saved Orient 'getting stuffed', Vigouroux responded:: “It probably did mate but it lost the club, tv money etc which for a club at this level is important… I see you’re from the Cotswolds mate maybe try supporting your local club and helping them out.” Good on you Vigouroux. Bit of poetry there. 9 January. Away to Stoke in the FA Cup (2-0). Drinan made a complete hash to the side of goal and Smith took a touch rather than hit the ball first time and it went three yards wide of the target. Later his header was well saved. Clay was marking space for most of the half as crosses rained in from the right. Just before half time Clay was caught out and nobody was marking the scorer as we went one down. Smyth started and Stoke appeared to be keen on returning him to the injury list. We didn’t fare any better in the second half with Drinan making a hash of two chances. Smith didn’t do much better. Sotiriou came on for Drinan and had a great chance to lob the keeper after a through ball from Smyth. But like his fellow strikers made a complete hash as well. Minutes from time they added a second. Again the attack came from the right but this time we couldn’t blame Clay as he had been replaced by Young though who Pratley was marking only he knows. Team: 22 Vigouroux, 15 Mitchell, 19 Beckles, 25 Ogie, 8 Clay, 26 Kyprianou, 18 Pratley, 3 Wood, 7 Smyth, 9 Smith, 16 Drinan. Subs: 5 Happe, 6 Thompson, 10 Kemp, 20 Sotiriou(Drinan 73), 21 Young(Clay 62), 23 Papadopoulos, 24 Sweeney, 27 Byrne, 28 Nkrumah. Apparently Archibald was injured. BBC Report. Video highlights. The worse set of haircuts I have ever seen in grown men. Includes substitutes! I notice that as well as Alabi and Dennis Bromley have another ex O in Scott Wagstaff. Signed from Aldershot he scored in the win over Solihull. We are now a third of the way (January 11) through the transfer window and not a rumour of any signings. Given how the signings were last January, Freeman, Abrahams, Kemp and Thompson with only the latter two still with the club some supporters were getting jittery. I think I am right in saying that two of the signings last year were got with two thirds of the window gone. Sargeant joined Wealdstone on a seven day emergency loan. 13 January. We signed 21 year-old Millwall U23 right back Dan Moss on loan until the end of the season. Without any league experience though he played 23 games for Yeovil this season, picked up six bookings and therefore a ban in the process. He joined the Lions in 2019 after leaving Burnley U18’s. 15 January. The U18’s beat MK Dons away 1-3 with goals from Fish 16’ 61’ Apat 43’. Tean: Sworder, St Louis, Sodje, Harvest, Apat, Chinedu, Charlie Pegrum, Clements, Fish, Koroma, Davies. Subs: Phillips, Reggie Pegrum, Kwatchey, Ojo, Avgoustidis. Tanga was not playing as he had joined Sutton Common Rovers on a work experience loan. Didn’t come on until 83’ in his first game. Rumour on one of the LO forums was that we would sign right sided midfielder Otis Khan from Walsall. 19 January. We signed 26 year-old Otis Khan from Walsall on a 18 month contract. Khan started his career at Manchester United's youth system before joining Sheffield United's Academy in the summer of 2012. Khan made his first team début in March 2014 in an away game at Crawley Town. While at Sheffield United (two sub apps), Khan played on loan at Buxton (two spps) before joining Matlock Town (16 apps, 5 goals) on loan on 16 January 2015. He was loaned to Barrow 2015-13 (6 apps, 2 subs, 4 goals). He joined Barnsley on 25 Jan 2016 but only started from the bench on three occasions. In July of the same year he joined Yeovil on a free and had his most productive time with 82 apps + seven as sub scoring 18 goals. He stayed two years before joining Mansfield making just 33 apps + 20 as sub scoring four goals on his two years there. He was loaned to Newport in January 2020 making four apps with one as sub without scoring. Another move to Tranmere lasted a year making 39 apps +10 as sub scoring two goals. Last October according to Wiki he joined Walsall on a short term deal and according to them made seven apps scoring two goals. According to Soccerbase he only made three apps + two in the league. In total he has made 167(48) scoring 30 goals in all competitions. Walsall were keen to keep him so why did he only start three league games? Clay Clay would be out for the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on his knee. Whereas we were expecting another one or two more signings that would now be another two or three. Abrahams joined Grimsby on loan. Fraxer Shaw who played for us 25 times 2015-2016 joined Kingstonian. After leving us he joined Accrington Stanley, East Thurrock United, Woking, Dulwich Hamlet, Eastleigh, Leatherhead, Concord Rangers, and Chelmsford City. Armand Gnanduillet left Hearts for Le Mans. He played 18 times for us in 2016 scoring four goals. Since then he has played for Blackpool Baroka and Altay. 22 January. Home to Port Vale (0-0). Pants, clueless. With Archibald still out the team was much like it was a month ago. Moss came in for James. I was not impressed with Moss but he did put in one cross. Drinan blasted over and Smyth found the side netting and came close in hitting the crossbar but with one of their right back off in seven minutes with a hamstring we still failed to score. Both teams were poor with a mere 13 shots in the match with only four on target. This from the BBC ”The lack of quality and cohesion continued to be evident after the break with few chances being created at either end to leave both keepers with a comfortable and stress- free afternoon.” Khan replaced Moss and looked the part with some good touches. Team: 22 Vigouroux, 15 Mitchell, 19 Beckles, 25 Ogie, 17 Moss, 26 Kyprianou, 18 Pratley, 3 Wood, 7 Smyth, 9 Smith, 16 Drinan. Subs: 5 Happe, 6 Thompson, 10 Kemp(Smyth 90), 20 Sotiriou, 21 Young(Kyprianou 62), 27 Byrne, 17 Khan(Moss 61). BBC Report. Video highlights Down to 13th. Es O’s elsewhere: Angol limped off with a hamstring injury. Omotoye and Abrahms started for their clubs but didn’t last the 90 minutes. Bowery scored for Crewe. Johnson on the bench for Mansfield. Wilkinson was subbed for Walsall. Maguire-Drew put Grimsby in front but they still lost to Bromley. Dalby hit the winner for Southend. 24 January. Rumours that we would sign a Kings Lynn midfielder for £80,000 and Jordan Brown from Derby on the forums were basically correct. Did we really need a 20 year-old and a 21 year-old neither with League experience? First through the door was 20 year-old Jordan Brown from Derby. Only played four times for them other than U18’s and U23’s. He can play in defence and midfield and signed an 18-month contract. A two-and-a-half year- deal for an undisclosed fee for 21 year-old defensive midfielder Ethan Coleman. A former Reading academy player played 22 times for National League side King's Lynn this season, scoring twice. 25 January. Home to Newport County (0-1). Kyprianou kicks it away. As I expected Khan started and Moss was benched. Brown also started but not Coleman as his documents had not been processed. By whom is not clear. Goalless first half and to be honest as hopeless as Saturday. Long balls being punted to nobody in particular. Kyprianou and Kemp had a poor first touches and kept losing possession. Khan looked impressive, playing balls at the right pace and to the feet unlike most of his colleagues. Jacket made a mistake on 83’ when he took off the experienced Wood for Moss. Two minutes later Kyprianou swung a foot to clear the ball nto touch but instead gave away a corner. From which the corner was headed to the far post where an unmarked player slotted home. I’m sure if Wood had been there it would not have happened. Team: 22 Vigouroux, 15 Mitchell, 19 Beckles, Brown 25 Ogie, 26 Kyprianou, 17 Khan, 3 Wood, 9 Smith, 10 Kemp, 16 Drinan. Subs: 1 Sargeant, 5 Happe, 6 Thompson, 20 Sotiriou(Kemp 69), 21 Young, 7 Smyth(Drinan 45), 17 Moss(Wood 85). BBC Report. Video highlights Down to 14th. Away to Mansfield next. They are 7th. Comment: Some fans are calling for the head of Jackett. Stats show that at this moment in the season last year that Embleton had a couple more points. Yes it is true we were light on incoming players. I wouldn’t know who that is down to but we have lost two key players in Archibald and James. But replacing two experienced players with two without any EFL experience in this league is never a good idea. Ogie signed an extension to his contract that would tie him to the club until the end of the 2023/2024 season. Ex O Ollie Palmer joined Wrexham for a reported £300,000. 29 January. Away to Mansfield (2-0). Drinan, Kemp, Kyprianou and Wood were dropped. Ogie did not play and Happe replaced him. Another hamstring victim. Coleman started and his first contribution was a foul on minute one. Sotiriou also started as did Archibald and Smyth. A goal just before half time sealed our fate and ex O Bowery scored it. Jackett thought there was a hint of handball. Only two shots at goal with neither on target. A further goal was added on 72’. No shots on target the whole match and only five in total. But Drinan did hit the woodwork twice. Smyth off with a rib injury. Team: 22 Vigouroux, 15 Mitchell, 19 Beckles, 5 Happe, 17 Khan, 32 Brown, 34 Coleman, 9 Smith, 11 Archibald, 7 Smyth, 20 Sotiriou. Subs: 1 Sargeant, 6 Thompson, 10 Kemp, 16 Drinan(Sotiriou 63), 21 Young(Smyth 45), 26 Kyprianou(Brown 64), 17 Moss. BBC Report. Video highlights Down to 15th. U18’s snatch all 3 points thanks to a late Nkrumah strike as they beat Stevenage at home. Team: Phillips, Kwatchey, Agyeman, Harvest, Apat, Hajdini, Obiero, Ojo, Fish, Nkrumah, Davies. Subs: Norman, Reggie Pegrum, Koroma, Uzor-Grey, Chinedu. 31 January. Transfer deadline. On loan until the end of the season came George Ray a defender from Exeter and Frank Nouble a striker from Colchester. When I say striker 250 starts and a further 104 from the bench he scored 46 league goals. Not impressive. Whether he is fit is another matter as he played only two minutes in his last game on the 22 January. Ray last played on the 1 December and substituted after 79’ but has made 23 apps this season (as has Nouble (24) scoring three goals). Would he be able to play against Colchester on Saturday? Ray would be a replacement for Mitchell who is expecting surgery at some stage. Dan Kemp was sold to MK Dons for an undisclosed fee. Not much moved in the way of ex O’s except Ryan Hedges from Aberdeen to Blackburn. He played for us on loan from Swansea starting 11(6) scoring two goals in 2014/15. He was loaned to Stevenage and Yeovil before signing for Barnsley. Then to Aberdeen on a free before his latest move. Rumours that Drinan would join Bournemouth and Smith Cardiff with Johe Nolan joining us all failed to materialise. Nolan joined Bristol Rovers. 1 February. Away to Bradford (1-1 Pratley). Three of the new signings on the bench and no place for Nouble. Pratley, Drinan and Kyprianou start. No change in the method of play. Far too many over hit/under hit passes. We scored on 69’ after Khan was bundled into touch. Archibald toook the free kick as he had done all the corners. Beckles hooked the ball back for Pratley to fire home. But on 83’ Drinan failed to get his head to the ball and it came back out and found the back of the net via a deflection. Team: 22 Vigouroux, 15 Mitchell, 19 Beckles, 5 Happe, 17 Khan, 34 Coleman, 9 Smith, 26 Kyprianou, 18 Pratley, 11 Archibald, 16 Drinan. Subs: 1 Sargeant, 35 Ray, 28 Nkrumah, 32 Brown, 21 Young, 20 Sotiriou, 17 Moss. BBC Report. Video highlights Still 15th. Smyth has a collapsed lung so will be out for the rest of the season. Nouble will not play Saturday against Colchester. Comment from the London Football Scene on the sale of Kemp and the loss of Smyth: For a side who have scored just once in their last six, to get rid of such a player without a replacement represents a significant gamble. That would be my thought as Jackett described both Coleman and Brown as holding midfield players yet we lack a creative midfielder. Could Khan fill that spot? A question and answer session by Chairman Nigel Tavis was illuminating. Did we want promotion, Yes, yes, yes was the answer. We had signed all the players on our transfer target list. Some teams had not. Due to the injury to Smyth and the pending non football related surgery to Mitchell we signed Nouble and Ray adding a further £100,000 to the bill. We would soon sign two academy players. He was not aware of any ground to be made available to us within the borough should we ever need a bigger stadium. Using the old Leyton Hare and Hounds ground was not an option. We needed a site with several football pitches on as a training ground. Also the women’s team would need a ground to play on and believed we would ask for a promotion at the end of the season. The reason these days that fees paid were undisclosed were because paying a lump was not longer that simple. With added expense when a number of games were played and if the player was subsequently sold a percentage went to the seller. Further payment if the player was part of a promotion. Some supporters appear to believe Jackett was not on the transfer committee. They were wrong. Midfielder Zech Obiero signs first professional deal. The 18 year-old signed signed a two and a half year deal with the club, making him an Orient player until the summer of 2024. Sonny Fish penned his professional deal. An eighteen month contract that will see him at the club until the summer of 2023. Fish, also 18 has been playing men’s football for Redbridge FC recently, and caught the eye, despite his young age. 5 February. Home to Colchester (0-1). A goal down after four minutes. Brown started but went off with a cut head to be replaced by Kyriranou on 44’. 65% of the play in the first half with 50% of shots on target. Only two shots in 45 minutes. Ogie and Moss also returned to the lineup replacing Happe and Archibald. Young started replacing Kyprianou and Brown Coleman. Reily was on the bench! No place on the bench for Archibald or Coleman. 60% of the play with five shots all match though four on target. Team: 22 Vigouroux, 17 Moss, 25 Ogie, 15 Mitchell, 19 Beckles, 17 Khan, 18 Pratley, 9 Smith, 32 Brown, 21 Young, 16 Drinan. Subs: 27 Byrne, 26 Kyprianou(Brown 44), 35 Ray, 5 Happe, 20 Sotiriou(Smith 79), 4 Reilly, 24 Sweeney. BBC Report. Video highlights Still 15th. Away to 7th placed Exeter on Tuesday. Josh Coulson joined Kings Lynn on loan and helped them to only their fourth win of the season. Judd got sent off for Dover. 8 February. Away to Exeter (1-0). Coleman and Archibald still ill, Brown missing with a cut head and Smith also off ill. Goalless at half time we let in their winner two minutes into added time. Team: 22 Vigouroux, 15 Mitchell, 19 Beckles, 5 Happe, 17 Khan, 6 Thompson, 26 Kyprianou, 18 Pratley, 21 Young, 10 Nouble, 16 Drinan. Subs: 27 Byrne, 17 Moss, 25 Ogie(Happe 50), 20 Sotiriou(Nouble 90+3)), 4 Reilly(Young 67), 24 Sweeney, 33 Fish. Happe to have surgery on his knee, another one out for the season? BBC Report. Video highlights. Down to 16th. Home to Salford Saturday. Sammy Moore is managing Potters Bar. Wilkinson’s manager got the tin tack. 12 February. Home to Salford (0-2). More experience, same result. Début for Ray, Kyprianou and Mitchell dropped. No place even on the bench for Moss. Poor from start to finish but worse when Nouble and Thompson went off. For a manager who wants more experience why then did he put Smith and Kyprianou on. The experienced Wood on the bench, Reilly not even on the bench. Team: 22 Vigouroux, 19 Beckles, 25 Ogie, 17 Khan, 6 Thompson, 34 Coleman, 35 Ray, 18 Pratley, 11 Archibald, 10 Nouble, 16 Drinan. Subs: 27 Byrne, 21 Young, 26 Kyprianou(Thompson 57), 9 Smith(Nouble 56), 15 Mitchell, 17 Moss, 20 Sotiriou. BBC Report. Video highlights. Still 16th, seven points away from a relegation place. Away to Harrogate Saturday. 19 February. The match at Harrogate was postponed an hour before kick off. Down to 18th without kicking a ball. Martin Ling was the guest on the Orient Outlook Podcast and again confirmed he has no part in offering advice to Jackett on who to sign. Only Kenny does that and the transfer committee then look to see if that is possible. On the new signings, Coleman was someone they had on the radar these past six months. Brown they had training with the club last season before he got an injury. Moss is not the player that they hoped for despite being highly thought of by Millwall and he had played for Yeovil. Khan wants to play at right back. Nouble was suggested by Jackett to take pressure off Smith. Ray was needed as a replacement for Mitchell who was due for surgery on Friday. Plus he doesn’t fancy Thompson in the middle. There are no reserves leagues to enter but they are considering entering an U23 league as they allow up to three overage players. Talks with James are ongoing and Archibald would consider a move here but still has a year on his contract with Lincoln. 22 February. Home to Bristol Rovers (0-2). Beccles nightmare, Coleman, Young lightweight, Rovers a bunch of thugs like their manager. Evans put Rovers ahead on 34’ with nobody anywhere near him. Three minutes later they made it two. No one marking the crosser or the scorer. Don’t know who Ogie was marking. That was game over. Drinan squandered a golden chance but blazed yards not only over but wide. Smith’s header was saved but here was nobody following up his parry. Again Sotiriou proved why he was not starting more matches. Keep taking a ball touch after touch gives defenders the upper hand. Beccles had a nightmare with consecutive balls finding the fans Team: 22 Vigouroux, 19 Beckles, 25 Ogie, 17 Khan, 34 Coleman, 35 Ray, 18 Pratley, 11 Archibald, 21 Young, 16 Drinan, 20 Sotiriou. Subs: 27 Byrne, 6 Thompson, 9 Smith(Drinan 67), 4 Reilly(Young 45), 3 Wood, 10 Nouble(Soririou 81), 32 Brown. BBC Report. Video highlights. 18th, five points away from a relegation place. That was enough for the management and an hour after the final whistle Jackett and Gallen were sacked. Next day it was announced that Harrold and Saah would take temporary charge. For how long they did not state. What went wrong for Jackett? The players who wanted to leave the club were more experienced than those incoming. Wilkinson: League games 141(61) scoring 42 goals for, Dagenham, Gillingham, Chesterfield, Portsmouth, Newport, Barnsley, Oldham, Torquay, Chester and Bolton. Johnson 146(60) 74 goals Dundee, Motherwell, Gateshead, Stevenage and Tranmere. Brophy 157(46) 8 goals for Swindon. Plus McAnuff 499(81) 57 goals for Stevenage, Reading, Watford, Crystal Palace, Cardiff, West Ham and Wimbledon. They were replaced by Archibald 38(27) 5 goals for Lincoln, Macclesfield, Forest Green, Brentford and Albion. Drinan 27(25) 9 goals for Ayr, Waterford, Sutton and Ipswich. Smith 64(38) 18 goals for Motherwell, Northampton, Macclesfield, Swindon and Millwall. Smyth 77(33) 25 goals for Accrington, Charlton, QPR, Linfield. Wood 99(4) 2 goals for Bradford. The most experienced was James with 103(6) 9 goals for Salford, Wigan, Hibernian, Yeovil and Cardiff. The four leaving players had started over 950 games scoring 181 goals whilst the incoming five a mere 408 scoring 66. Those released also had vast experience though thought not good enough for League 2 and so it seems with Coulson, Ling, Maguire-drew, Widdowson, Judd, Dennis and Turley back in the NFL. Not to mention Dayton, Angol, Cissé and Wright. Jackett then gave a lack of experience as a reason for the poor results following season ending injuries for James, Clay, Smyth and Happe though Happe and Smyth barely featured in his team. Yet he sold Kemp to MK Dons and got in three players with one league game between them in Brown, Coleman and Moss. Signing a crock in Reilly has not helped. Maybe a replacement for Kemp? The forums were keen to point out that Brown, Coleman and Moss are not ready for League 2 and Young is lightweight as was loanee Omotoye. Kyprianou? Jury is out but leaning towards going backward. 26 February. Home to Carlisle (0-1). Darren Ferguson was 1-4 to become our next manager but in the meantime Harrold and Saah chose the following team: Team: 22 Vigouroux, 19 Beckles, 17 Khan, 3 Wood, 34 Coleman, 26 Kyprianou, 35 Ray, 18 Pratley, 9 Smith, 11 Archibald, 16 Drinan. Subs: 27 Byrne, 6 Thompson, 20 Sotiriou(Kyprianou 61, 25 Ogie, 10 Nouble(Drinan 75), 21 Young(Coleman 76), 32 Brown. Going a goal down after five minutes was not in the plan but that is what happened. Coleman failed to make a tackle. Nor was Archibald being sent off for a second bookable offence but that’s what happened. Ten shots all match but only three on target. Ipswich on the other hand had 22 shots albeit only eight on target. BBC Report. Video highlights. Still 18th, but three points away from a relegation place. The top three teams all lost. Below us are Stevenage, Barrow, Carlisle, Colchester, Oldham and Scunthorpe. Barrow, Colchester and Oldham all picked up a point. Scunthorpe and Stevenage lost. Who will replace Nouble and Archibald away to Colchester on Tuesday. They are a point below us. How comes it takes so long for us to appoint a manager? It’s not as though our process reaps any dividends. This week Mark Hughes took over at Bradford. The former Wales boss has had spells with Blackburn, Manchester City, Fulham, QPR, Stoke and Southampton. Hughes, has never managed a side outside of the top flight. Derek Adams returned to Morecambe. Paul Inch took over at Reading though he has not been in management for eight years. Grant McCann replaced Darren Ferguson at Peterborough. Keith Millen was replaced by Paul Simpson at Carlisle. Ex O’s elsewhere: Palmer scored for Wrexham, Wilkinson for Walsall and Abrahams for Grimsby. Chesterfield have extended the contract of assistant manager Danny Webb. Former Yeovil Town player Charlie Lee has returned to the club as first-team assistant manager. Lots of ex O’s not even in their team: Dennis, Ling, Widdowson, Thomas, Turley, Judd, Maguire-Drew. 1 March. Away to Colchester (2-2 Sotiriou, Coleman). Back among the goals. Strange decision so the supporters think with Ogie on the bench. Reilly had a recurrence and Drinan was ill. Players used to play through illness. Team: 22 Vigouroux, 6 Thompson, 19 Beckles, 17 Khan, 3 Wood, 34 Coleman, 35 Ray, 18 Pratley, 20 Sotiriou, 9 Smith, 21 Young. Subs: 27 Byrne, 25 Ogie, 26 Kyprianou(khan 86, 29 Obiero, 7 Smyth(Young 68), 17 Moss, 30 Tanga(Thompson 89). Nouble missing as he cannot play against his parent club and Archibald suspended following his double yellow Card. It as going well when Sotirious scored on 66’ with a cracking goal from the edge of the area. It lasted nine minutes and again set pieces done for us as Kyprianou gave away a corner but nobody far post marking and then four minutes later on 79’ when Smith gave away a free kick. Poor marking from Wood. A saviour by the way of Coleman three minutes into added time for a point as he bundled the ball over the line from close range. BBC Report. Video highlights. Still three points away from relegation and still 18th. We have a game or two in hand over most of the teams below us. Home to fellow strugglers Stevenage on Saturday. Seeeney joined Dartford on loan. 5 March. Home to Stevenage (2-2 Sotiriou, Archibald). Poor. Players do not seem to know what they are supposed to do and lack so much confidence in passing that by the time they have decided the receiver has a man on him. If you don’t believe me then this from London Football Scene: The O’s were supposed to be buoyed by a last minute leveller against Colchester but, despite that late goal, once again produced a tepid display in front of their home crowd. Archibald returned for the injured Kahn. Nouble on the bench replacing Obiero. We went a goal down on 24’ when Wood failed to get a header in and Prosser’s landing at the far post. Six minutes later Pratley’s little dink over the heads of the defenders found Sotiriou and he blasted the ball into the net. Despite protests and a discussion between the ref and linesman the goal stood. No idea what Young was doing on the pitch and he was replaced by Smyth. Two minutes after the restart the goalie cleared the ball to Norris, Beckles could not get near him and his first touch shot smashed into the net. Wood was having the sort of game that probably made Jackett drop him. He limped off after 65 and Ogie replaced him. Four minutes into added time a clearance found Archibald 30 yards out. One touch and the ball flew past the goalie’s left hand into the top corner of the net. Team: 22 Vigouroux, 6 Thompson, 19 Beckles, 3 Wood, 34 Coleman, 35 Ray, 18 Pratley, 20 Sotiriou, 9 Smith, 21 Young. 11 Archibald. Subs: 27 Byrne, 25 Ogie(Wood 65), 26 Kyprianou(Khan 86, 7 Smyth(Young 45), 17 Moss, 10 Nouble(Pratley 86), 30 Tanga. BBC Report. Video highlights. Four points away from relegation but now 20th. Lots of disgruntled supporters on the forums over the time taken to appoint a manager. So how are those managers mentioned above that earned an early appointment? Mark Hughes has lost his first two at Bradford. Derek Adams at Morecambe lost at Plymouth. Paul Inch (Reading) lost at home to Millwall. Grant McCann at Peterborough lost at Huddersfield. Paul Simpson at Carlisle beat Oldham away. Allegedly three candidates have turned down the job presumably as they don’t want a relegation on their CV. Current favourite is Ronnie Wellens who guided Swindon to promotion. 9 March. Finally we appointed Wellens as manager on a two-and- a-half year deal. According to rumour he had been in the stands for the Carlisle match and it took four attempts to lure him. Apparently he was interviewed for the job last summer but had committed himself to Doncaster where he had made over 170 apps in two spells. Said all the right things on YouTube with a hint that someone was coming in though whether backroom staff or a player was not divulged. Started his managerial career with Oldham in September 2017 but sacked the following June after 43 games wining 14 of them. In November of 2018 he became the Swindon manager taking them to promotion 2019/2020. After 84 games he left for Salford in November 2020 but after 30 games in charge winning 11 he was sacked the following March. He said his heart ruled his head when he became the manager at Doncaster the following May. He lasted until Christmas last year after 26 games in charge wining just six. As a player he started just one match with Manchester United before moving to Blackpool, Oldham (twice), Doncaster (twice), Leicester, Shrewsbury, Salford and Macclesfield. Played in 698 games scoring 48 goals. The next day the signing turned out to former player and WBA loan manager Paul Terry as assistant manager. This did not go down well with some supporters who cited his “alleged part” in the suicide of Dale Roberts. At the time Northamptonshire Telegraph reported “Mr Edinburgh said: “It had such a massive impact on everyone who knew him. He was such a nice lad.” The FA fined him over his gambling. Terry Played 71 games for us scoring a single goal between 2007-2009. After he left he fleetingly joined Grays before spells with Rushden & Diamonds, Darlington and Thurrock. On retiring Terry worked as an agent for six years before joining Richie Wellens at Oldham Athletic as the first-team coach in November 2017. Justin Edinburgh had to inform his players about the death of one of their colleagues and his recollection can be heard here along with Martin Ling on mental health. Next page 12 March. Away to Hartlepool (0-0). Whatever the reason Harrold dropped Ogie, Wellens did the same and his starting team was: 22 Vigouroux, 6 Thompson, 19 Beckles, 3 Wood, 34 Coleman, 35 Ray, 26 Kyprianou, 7 Smyth, 9 Smith, 20 Sotiriou, 11 Archibald. That meant out went Pratley and Young replaced by Kyprianou and Smyth. Goalless at half time and that is how it stayed. One bad bit of defensive play was when Beckles headed the ball to Kyprianou but again his first touch left a lot to be desired and they had a shot on target that Vigouroux easily saved. If he didn’t the Vigouroux should have called for it to be his and if he didn’t then he should have. Wellens had a word with Wood and sorted out his problem and that reflected in his play whipping in a right foot cross that Smith only just missed. Pratley (covid) and Khan (sore toe) should be in contention for the next match. Subs: 1 Sargeant, 25 Ogie, 14 Khan, 21 Young, 10 Nouble(Smith 83), 29 Obiero, 16 Drinan(Smyth 67). BBC Report. Video highlights. Five points away from relegation still 20th. Three point gap between us and Colchester above us. Top of the table Forest Green