Photo Credit: Auz/Flickr
In a game of fine margins it was Brentford who took the honours to move into second place in League One at the expense of archrivals Leyton Orient in their lunchtime kick-off at the Matchroom Stadium on Saturday.
Brentford held on to a 1-0 score line despite having James Tarkowski sent off for two yellow cards five minutes into the second half.
Orient who lost for the first time in seven games recorded their highest home attendance for twenty one years and the record crowd were treated to a feisty affair, settled by a long-range effort from Marcelo Trotta in first half stoppage time.
The Italian U-21 striker, who is currently on-loan from Fulham, hit a scuffed effort from outside the box which beat the outstretched hand of Leyton keeper Eldin Jakupovic at his near-post.
It was Trotta’s 12th of what has been an impressive season, and kept up his reputation as somewhat of a lucky charm – The Bees have won 11 of the 12 games in which he has netted, drawing the other.
It was rough justice for Orient who dominated possession and had the better of the chances in the first half; most notably through striker David Mooney who chipped over from the edge of the box and Dean Cox who fizzed a shot wide from 25 yards.
Tempers running high
After a first half melee between the two sets of players which threatened to boil over, the second period began with Tarkowski’s reckless challenge on Orient’s French midfielder, Romain Vincelot for which he earned a second yellow card.
Despite the numerical advantage however the hosts were unable to capitalise and were lucky not to lose by more when, in the dying minutes, Clayton Donaldson’s goal-bound header came back off his own player and Alan Judge fired against the post.
The home side’s best chances came when winger Moses Odubajo shot straight at David Button from eight yards, while Shaun Batt had a header cleared off the line by Alan McCormack.
Orient manager Russell Slade bemoaned his team’s luck after they went into the interval a goal down despite the strong first half showing. “How we’ve not scored today I don’t know really,” said Slade.
The result leaves Orient third in the table two points adrift of Brentford and outside the automatic promotion position which they have occupied for most of the season.
League One Table
| Team | Games | Goal Difference | Points |
| Wolves | 35 | 43 | 77 |
| Brentford | 35 | 28 | 76 |
| Orient | 37 | 36 | 74 |
| Preston | 37 | 16 | 69 |
| Rotheram | 36 | 23 | 66 |
| Peterborough | 36 | 10 | 58 |
| MK Dons | 37 | 3 | 52 |
| Walsall | 37 | 1 | 49 |
Referee: Robert Madley
Attendance: 8,835
Leyton Orient: 30 Jakupovic, 02 Omozusi, 03 Sawyer Booked (Batt – 70′ ), 04 Vincelot, 05 Cuthbert, 15 Clarke, 11 Odubajo, 08 James (Bartley – 88′ ), 10 Mooney, 09 Lisbie (Dagnall – 75′ ), 07 Cox
Substitutes: 12 Larkins, 14 Batt, 19 Lasimant. 21 Bartley, 23 Dagnall, 25 Simpson, 29 Ness
Brentford: 27 Button, 12 McCormack, 24 Bidwell, 08 Douglas, 26 Tarkowski (sent-off), 05 Craig, 04 Forshaw, 18 Judge, 09 Donaldson , 29 Trotta (Dean – 51′ ), 17 Saville
Substitutes: 01 Lee, 06 Dean, 11 Grigg, 15 Dallas, 22 Reeves, 28 Yennaris, 32 Adams
