Leyton Orient 2, Crawley Town 0: Shot-shy Reds suffer away defeat

The home striker netted goals in each half to send Reds to back-to-back defeats on the road.

The visitors were looking to capitalise on a decent draw at home against promotion chasing Plymouth Argyle, but were left pointless in East London after a poor attacking display saw them register just one shot on target.

Reds did put in a disciplined defensive display in the first half, but were trailing at the break as Gnanduillet netted a stunning strike four minutes before half-time.

He doubled Orient’s lead with 20 minutes left as despite Crawley making three attacking changes from the bench, it was a quiet afternoon’s work for home stopper Alex Cisak at the Matchroom Stadium.

The visitors made one change from their home draw with Plymouth as fit-again Jon Ashton returned in central defence for Tom Dallison, who broke a toe on his debut last week.

There were places on the bench for new signings Frankie Sutherland and Lyle Della Verde, as well as Lanre Oyebanjo after he featured in a friendly in midweek.

Orient had plenty of the ball in the opening 15 minutes, but Crawley held firm in the final third - Sonny Bradley alert to put in a block-tackle of a promising Jay Simpson break, in the only real notable chance.

It was on 15 minutes exactly that the first shot of the game arrived as Nicky Hunt’s effort sailed safely over the bar after a corner.

Three minutes later, Paul Jones was called into action as he pushed over a Simpson effort at the near post after a corner.

On the half hour mark, another promising Orient break was broken up by the impressive Andy Bond as he slide it to make a fine tackle.

The only real moment of quality in an otherwise drab half came just four minutes before the break.

A innocuous ball was played into Gnanduillet on the edge of the box and he turned and riffled a fierce strike into the near top corner past a disparing dive from Jones.

The hosts should have been two goals up within six minutes of the second half as player-manager Kevin Nolan missed a sitter.

He arrived at the near post to volley over a low cross from just five yards out as Gnandguillet teed him up.

At the other end, Crawley first real shot saw Cisak go down early, but manage to parry a dipping effort from Roarie Deacon.

And after a dismal opening 45 minutes, the chances kept coming as a well-placed Simpson struck straight at Jones, as did Gnandulliet moments later.

Reds brought on both Matt Harrold and Shamir Fenelon in an attempt to get back into the game as Lee Barnard and Gavin Tomlin made way.

Harrold’s first involvement was in his own box as he deflected over a Simpson shot after a short corner.

But in the 71st minute, the hosts added the second goal they had been threatening as a deep cross to the far post picked out Gnanduillet and he tapped in across goal past an off-balance Jones.

Crawley really threatened after that despite attacking midfielder Lyle Della Verde coming off the bench for his debut as Orient looked the more likely to add to their tally.

Crawley Town: Deacon, Jones, Bradley, Ashton, Yorwerth, Bawling (Della Verde 75), Tomlin (Fenelon 63), Bond, Atkinson, Edwards, Barnard (Harrold 63). Unused subs: Preston, Oyebanjo, Young, Sutherland.

Leyton Orient: Cisak,Hunt, Brisley, Baudry,Binnow-Williams, Clohessy, Nolan, Atangana, Moore (Jarhaldo-Martin 75), Gnanduillet (Palmer 79) , Simpson. Unusued subs: Grainger, Shaw, Essam, Payne, Pritchard.

Referee: Lee Collins.

Attendance: 4,610 (301 away).

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