ORIENT: Charity does not begin at our home (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

ORIENT: Charity does not begin at our home

11:10am Thursday 18th March 2010 in

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LEYTON Orient boss Geraint Williams insists teams no longer come to Brisbane Road expecting charity, having overseen the Matchroom Stadium’s metamorphosis from a cosy weekend getaway to a daunting sporting arena this season.

Saturday’s imp-ressive 2-0 victory over Walsall was the sixth game in succession that the O’s had avoided defeat at home; a run which means promotion-chasing Hudder-sfield Town are unlikely to be relishing the prospect of their trip south this weekend.

Orient have already surpassed last year’s total of six league wins on home turf, thanks to Sean Thornton’s brace on Saturday.

While the team’s away form leaves a lot to be desired – Orient have managed just three victories on the road – it is their performances in front of their own fans that has helped keep their heads above water in League One.

“It’s important you get your home form right,” said Williams. “I know that hasn’t been the case here for a number of years.

“People mention our poor home record but we’re not too bad this year. People are not looking forward to coming to Brisbane Road any more and that’s a start.

“We have to make sure that continues by beating teams as much as we can and we need to dig in a bit more away from home and be harder to beat.”

Orient’s comprehensive defeat of Walsall took the club past the 40-point barrier, and Williams has not ruled out reaching the 60 mark.

That would be a four-point improvement on last season and would match the achievement of two years ago, with the O’s finishing 14th on both occasions.

“We wanted to get to 40 as quick as possible and now we can look at 50. Then, who knows, let’s have a sneaky look at 60,” he said.

“It’s funny how often in football when you get your performance and result right other results go for you as well.

“So we’ve got to make sure we pick our wins up and then the rest will take care of itself.”

The team have another chance to demonstrate their home credentials when Huddersfield come to town this week, with Orient keen to make amends for a 4-0 drubbing at the Galpharm Stadium back in October.

“It’s a great game to look forward to. Huddersfield are a smashing team. We actually got taken apart up there in the second half so we need to get a little bit of that back,” added Williams.

“It’s going to be a tough game, they’re a good footballing side and they’ll bring a good following with them so it will be a great atmosphere.

“I’m sure the lads will be up for that one.”

The game carries an added spice to it, given that Orient striker Jonathan Téhoué, who has just penned a long-term contract with the club, was on the verge of signing for Huddersfield during his time at Turkish club Konyaspor.

However, the move was scuppered at the last minute, and the Frenchman could yet come back to bite the Terriers.