Leyton Orient started the new year with a whimper after a disappointing 1-0 home defeat to Fleetwood Town this afternoon.

Orient fell behind just 17 seconds into the second half when Gareth Evans broke through and fired home for the Cod Army.

The hosts struggled to break Fleetwood down and their two-match winning run was ended to leave them still very much involved in a League One relegation battle.

The O’s made two changes to the side which won at Yeovil at the end of last year. Andrea Dossena and David Mooney came in for Gary Sawyer and Kevin Lisbie.

Captain Nathan Clarke was back available on the bench after recovering from his groin injury while Everton midfielder John Lundstram was also a substitute following his loan move. Striker Gianvito Plasmati was another possible replacement after returning from his hamstring injury.

The visitors looked the brighter side early on and the first effort came through Evans’ fierce strike which soared over Gary Woods’ crossbar.

Orient were coming under pressure from Fleetwood and Stephen Dobbie tried a cheeky chip but it was straight into Woods’ arms.

The visitors came even closer to grabbing the breakthrough midway through the half when a cross found Dobbie but the striker’s half-volley cannoned off the O’s bar.

Orient finally created an opportunity when Roman Vincelot released Chris Dagnall and his shot was parried by keeper Chris Maxwell.

The hosts threatened again through Josh Wright but the midfielder smashed his fierce volley over the bar.

But the remainder of the half was extremely scrappy with both sides struggling to show any fluidity with the ball.

Woods was called into action when he blocked an effort from Jamie Proctor. But Orient broke away and Dagnall went close when his low shot was deflected out for a corner.

Fabio Liverani made a half-time substitution as he brought on Lundstram in place of midfielder Wright.

But the O’s got off to a disastrous start to the second half when the visitors broke and Evans fired past Woods for the opener.

Orient should have done better when Dagnall set up Mooney but the striker’s effort was straight at Maxwell.

The hosts made their second change as Lisbie was brought on surprisingly for Dean Cox.

Mooney went close for the O’s when his powerful volley flew narrowly over Fleetwood’s bar.

Orient had a glorious chance to level the match when Dossena sent in a cross but Lisbie somehow deflected the ball over from close range.

Liverani made his last change as Plasmati was thrown on in the last ten minutes for Mooney.

The O's manager was sent off in injury time after protesting that a free-kick for his side should have been a penalty for being in the area.

But his side could not find another chance to snatch a late equaliser and their encouraging end to 2014 was quickly forgotten after this defeat. 

Leyton Orient: Woods; Omozusi, Lowry, Cuthbert, Dossena; Pritchard, Vincelot, Wright, Cox (Lisbie, 63); Dagnall, Mooney (Plasmati, 82)

Subs not used: Sawyer, Baudry, Clarke, Grainger

Fleetwood Town: Maxwell; McLaughlin, Roberts, Jordan, Crainey; Sarcevic, Hughes, Evans, Morris (Schumacher, 78); Dobbie (Forbes, 85), Proctor

Subs not used: Blair, Hughes, Davies, Haughton, Springthorpe

Referee: Frederick Graham

Attendance: 4,947