A late Jay Simpson penalty fired Leyton Orient to a 1-0 win over Newport County in Kevin Nolan's first home game as player-manager tonight.

It looked like the hosts were going to have to settle for a frustrating point but Simpson converted the spot-kick for his 22nd goal of the season to make it back-to-back wins for Nolan since taking charge. 

The O’s selected an unchanged side from the team which won at Wycombe on Saturday. It meant a home debut for midfielder Nigel Atangana after joining from Portsmouth.

Hull City loanee Calaum Jahraldo-Martin had an early opportunity but the winger’s strike was charged down by a defender.

Some neat approach play from Atangana released McAnuff but his cross was just too far in front of Simpson.

The O’s created their best opportunity of the game through Simpson but the striker’s shot from the edge of the area was pushed away by goalkeeper Mitchell Beeney.

Sean Clohessy sent a dangerous cross into the area but a Newport defender was able to clear the danger before Simpson got a touch on the ball.

Orient nearly opened the scoring before the break after Ollie Palmer set up Jahraldo-Martin but the winger curled his shot just over the visitors’ bar.

Newport almost snatched the lead just before half-time through Conor Wilkinson but his close-range effort was turned over by goalkeeper Alex Cisak.

The O’s made a bright start to the second period and Simpson went close as he curled a shot just past Beeney’s post.

Jahraldo-Martin was looking a threat for the hosts but the winger squandered a chance when he raced into the area and tumbled to the ground.

Nolan made his first change when he brought on Armand Gnanduillet for his home debut in place of Palmer.

Gnanduillet almost made an immediate impact when he raced onto a pass but fired his shot inches past the post.

But the visitors almost scored with a rare attack when Wilkinson struck an effort over Cisak’s bar.

Newport were still a danger on the break but John-Cristophe Ayina blasted his shot over the goal.

The visitors went close again through Wilkinson but Cisak raced off his line to claim the ball at his feet.

Nolan was given a huge ovation as he brought himself on for his Orient debut with less than 15 minutes remaining in place of Jahraldo-Martin.

The crucial breakthrough occured in the 85th minute when Jobi McAnuff was fouled in the area and Simpson smashed home the penalty to give Orient the lead.

Bradley Pritchard was brought on as a late substitute for goalscorer Simpson.

There were four minutes of injury time and Orient held out to claim successive wins and climb into the League Two play-off spots. 

Leyton Orient: Cisak; Clohessy, Essam, Baudry, Shaw; McAnuff, Payne, Atangana, Jahraldo-Martin (Nolan, 78); Palmer (Gnanduillet, 67), Simpson (Pritchard, 89)

Subs not used: Grainger, Turgott, Kashket, Pollock

Newport County: Beeney; Davies, Hughes, Jones, Holmes; Rodman, Smalley, Byrne, Klukowski (Ayina, 53), Elito; Wilkinson (Boden, 76)

Subs not used: Green, Barrow, Taylor, Owen-Evans, Dymond

Referee: Andy Davies

Attendance: 4,209