4:49pm Saturday 23rd February 2008
By Peter King
Leyton Orient 0
Nottingham Forest 1
(League One)
ORIENT suffered a second straight home defeat after Junior Agogo's fortuitous second half strike proved enough to see off the less than creative hosts.
Forest had the first chance of the afternoon in the opening minute, when Agogo fired in a low effort but Stuart Nelson easily had it covered down to his right.
The hosts' first chance didn't arrive until the 11th minute. Stephen Purches' cross from the right went straight across the Forest box to Jason Demetriou, but his low shot lacked any real power to trouble Paul Smith.
In a tentative first half the visitors didn't carve out the next opening until the 19th minute, but Kris Commons half volley from 15 yards was easily saved by Nelson.
Forest continued to press forward after that and Commons sent over a cross from the right on 28 minutes, but Grant Holt's subsequent shot was deflected wide.
Commons again caused panic in the home rearguard on 37 minutes with another dangerous ball from the right, but this time Holt just failed to latch onto it.
The visitors also had the final chance of the half in the second minute of stoppage time. Agogo knocked the ball down for Chris Cohen but he dragged his shot from the edge of the area wide.
And it was Colin Calderwood's men who had the first chance of the second half on 54 minutes. Commons free kick from 20 yards out, was brilliantly palmed to safety by Nelson.
Forest had their next chance just four minutes later when the hosts failed to deal with Commons ball in from the right, but Holt's shot lacked power and nelson was easily down to save on his line.
And it was the visitors who finally broke the deadlock on 61 minutes. Agogo was gifted time by the home defence down the right, but while his shot from the edge of area lacked power Nelson somehow failed to get down to it to prevent it from squeezing inside his left-hand upright.
The Orient keeper did well however three minutes later to tip a dangerous ball from the right from Luke Chambers wide.
The O's were nearly level on 69 minutes in unlikely circumstances. Forest had struggled to deal with a cross into the box and in his attempts to clear the danger defender Wes Morgan crashed the ball against his own post.
Sub Arron Davies then sung over a well flighted cross from the right on 85, but Holt's header was straight at Nelson.
It continued to remain all Forest, but once again Julian Bennett's shot from 20 yards fell kindly for Nelson on 88 minutes.
Orient: Nelson; Purches, Saah, Oji, Palmer; Gray (Thornton 71), Terry, Chambers, Demetriou (Daniels 79); Boyd (Barcham 79), Ibehre. Unused: Morris (GK), Thelwell.
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/trade_directory/