Leyton Orient’s late surge for the play-offs continued with a scrappy win over struggling Portsmouth at Brisbane Road.
Shaun Batt seized on a misplaced back-pass on 57 minutes, finishing well to score the game’s only goal.
In truth, three points were more than Russell Slade’s men deserved from a cagey encounter in which Portsmouth created more clear-cut chances.
Both sides came into the game in good form. Orient, who were unbeaten in their last four encounters, impressed in their win at Shrewsbury on
Saturday.
The O’s were forced to start without injured captain Nathan Clark and star striker Kevin Lisbie, who took a place among the substitutes despite
scoring 12 goals so far this season.
Replacing them were Moses Odubajo in defence and Shaun Batt up front. After six games out with injury, Gary Sawyer was named among the substitutes.
Portsmouth, battling against the taxman as well as relegation, had won their last two and sensed an improbable escape.
Despite being the league’s second bottom club, Pompey still fielded a number of players with Premier League experience. More than 1,000 fans travelled up from the south coast and were in strong voice at Brisbane Road.
The visitors had the better of Orient in a tight first half and the O’s had to clear a dangerous cross from the six-yard box in the opening minutes
as Pompey caused trouble down the right.
Jed Wallace was presented with the best chance for Pompey on twenty minutes after some good work from Patrick Agyemang found the striker with time and space inside the area.
However, his shot lacked sting and the host’s goalkeeper Jamie Jones made a strong save.
At the other end, Slade’s side suffered from a lack of imagination in front of goal, coming closest to breaking the deadlock when Lee Cook’s
25-yard effort was tipped around the post by Simon Eastwood.
Truthfully though, neither side particularly impressed as the bitter cold and the poor quality of the playing surface made creating flowing football
difficult. Both attacks struggled to break down the opposition defence.
Orient started the second half sharper and were rewarded by Batt’s goal, which was created from nothing by Dan Butler’s awful backpass.
The opportunity may have been fortunate, but Batt was alert and showed excellent composure to finish, sweeping the ball into the bottom corner.
Soon afterwards, Orient nearly made exactly the same mistake as a weak Cuthbert header allowed David Connolly in on goal. He was denied by an
excellent clearance from replacement centre back Elliot Omozusi, who came on for injured Baudry.
As the game became stretched, Kevin Lisbie, who came on for Batt, and Romain Vincelot had half-chances for Orient.
Portsmouth looked more likely to score and pressed forward in the final stages of the match in search of an equalizer.
Connolly went close when his fine half-volley slid just wide of the post on 80 minutes. However, Agyemang could not get a shot away after fighting his way through the Orient penalty area.
The Orient defence held firm in difficult circumstances for a morale-boosting win.
Leyton Orient: Jones, Vincelot, Cuthbert, Baudry (Omozusi 62), McSweeney, Cox, Odubajo, Cook, James (Rowlands 79), MacDonald, Batt (Lisbie 67.)
Portsmouth: Eastwood, Moutaouakil, Gyepes, Ertl, Rocha, Butler (Harris 77), Walker (Maloney), Racon, Wallace, Connolly, Agyemang.
Referee: Gary Sutton
Attendance: 3,641
