Leyton Orient player-manager Kevin Nolan suffered his first defeat in charge after a disappointing 3-1 home defeat to Cambridge United this afternoon.

The O’s got off to a poor start after a mistake from Frazer Shaw enabled Ben Williamson to give the visitors the lead. Cambridge doubled their lead early on in the second half with another Williamson strike. 

But Orient were handed a lifeline when substitute Armand Gnanduillet poked in his first goal for the club. However Shaun Derry’s side made it 3-1 just after the hour mark when Jimmy Spencer fired home.

It was a reality check for Nolan as it brought home the challenge he faces in his first season in management after today's promotion setback.

Orient selected an unchanged team for the third match in a row after Nolan won his previous two games against Wycombe and Newport County. Peterborough defender Shaun Brisley was named on the bench after joining on loan on Wednesday.

The hosts fell behind after ten minutes of the contest when Shaw’s terrible back pass was latched onto by Williamson and he rounded goalkeeper Alex Cisak to score.

Orient almost responded through their captain but Mathieu Baudry’s header from a corner flew over the crossbar.

Lewis Page threatened for the U’s but his cross-shot was turned around the post by Cisak.

The hosts were really struggling to break down their opponents with a handful of crosses from Sean Clohessy their main attacking source during a lacklustre first half.

It got worse for the O’s after 53 minutes when Williamson cut inside in the penalty area and blasted a low strike into the net.

Nolan acted swiftly in the second half by bringing on Gnanduillet in place of the ineffective Ollie Palmer.

The hosts gave themselves hope of a comeback in the 57th minute when Gnanduillet netted from close range after the U’s failed to clear the ball.

Orient quickly made a second change with Blair Turgott introduced in place of winger Calaum Jahraldo-Martin.

But Cambridge restored their two-goal lead after 63 minutes when substitute Spencer tucked into the empty net after a pull back from Williamson.

Luke Berry should have added a fourth Cambridge goal but his close-range effort flew inches past the post.

Orient made their final change and player-manager Nolan came on for Jack Payne with just under 25 minutes remaining.

But the hosts were lacking inspiration and struggled to create clear opportunities during the closing stages.

There were five minutes of stoppage time but in truth the hosts did not look like scoring as Nolan's unbeaten start as a manager came to a limp end.

Leyton Orient: Cisak; Clohessy, Essam, Baudry, Shaw; McAnuff, Payne (Nolan, 66), Atangana, Jahraldo-Martin (Turgott, 57); Palmer (Gnanduillet 53), Simpson

Subs not used: Grainger, Moore, Brisley, Pritchard

Cambridge United: Norris; Furlong, Legge, Coulson, Page; Donaldson (Spencer, 60), Ledson, Dunne, Berry, Dunk (Simpson, 82); Williamson

Subs not used: Beasant, Omozusi, Roberts, Ahearne-Grant, Horne

Referee: Michael Bull

Attendance: 6,526