Leyton Orient’s winless run in League Two extended to five games after suffering a 2-1 home defeat to Carlisle United this evening.

Carlisle snatched the opening goal against the run of play, just after the hour mark, when Derek Asamoah scored. But the O’s levelled within two minutes through Mathieu Baudry’s thumping header.

United regained the lead in the final 20 minutes through Anthony Sweeney and were able to hold on as Orient suffered their first home defeat of the season.

Orient picked an unchanged starting XI but striker Paul McCallum was unable to make the bench after the knee injury he picked up at Northampton on Saturday.

The hosts created the first chance of the game but Sammy Moore’s well struck volley was parried by Carlisle goalkeeper Mark Gillespie.

Home keeper Alex Cisak was called into action when the Australian punched Danny Grainger’s free-kick from the touchline away from danger.

The O’s should have opened the scoring when the ball fell in front of the goal to Ollie Palmer but he scuffed his shot straight at Gillespie.

Jack Payne had an opportunity from outside the area but the midfielder’s effort lacked accuracy and drifted wide of the target.

Orient went close when Sean Clohessy’s cross was knocked back by Dean Cox but Jay Simpson’s shot was deflected over for a corner.

Carlisle had a chance on the counter-attack but Asamoah’s low strike trickled just past the post.

Orient almost grabbed the lead before the break after a superb strike from 30 yards by Cox but it struck the top of the bar.

Simpson had a chance but the striker could not find the target as he fired high and wide.

The O’s were again denied by the crossbar at the start of the second half when Cox’s free-kick struck the woodwork.

Orient were so close to opening the scoring when Payne’s cross was headed towards goal by Palmer but his effort cannoned back off the post.

The hosts should have done better from Clohessy’s delivery but Simpson could only head over.

United stole the opening goal against the run of play when Asamoah was released and kept his composure to tuck the ball underneath Cisak.

But within two minutes Orient deservedly equalised when Baudry headed home from Cox’s cross.

A touchline argument between Orient assistant boss Andy Hessenthaler and visiting boss Keith Curle resulted in the pair being sent to the stands.

But the visitors punished the O’s again in the 72nd minute when Sweeney managed to turn the ball into the net after his first effort was blocked.

Blair Turgott was thrown on in place of Sammy Moore in a bid to find an equaliser for Ian Hendon’s side.

Cox swung in a free-kick which was parried by Gillespie but Payne could only send his follow-up strike over the bar.

Orient made another late change with youngster Scott Kashket brought on in place of Frazer Shaw.

The hosts spurned a great chance to level in injury time but Turgott blasted well over the bar as the O's winless September ended in more disappointment. 

Leyton Orient: Cisak; Shaw (Kashket, 85), Essam, Baudry, Clohessy; Payne, Pritchard, Moore (Turgott, 75), Cox; Simpson, Palmer

Subs not used: Grainger, Dunne, James, Moncur, Agyemang

Carlisle United: Gillespie; Gillesphey, Joyce, Raynes, Miller; Kennedy (Archibald-Henville, 90), Sweeney (Atkinson, 89), Dicker, McQueen, Grainger; Asamoah (Gilliead, 87)

Subs not used: Hery, Hanford, Osei, Balanta

Referee: Charles Breakspear

Attendance: 4,408