Leyton Orient 1
Notts County 0
(League Two)

ORIENT bounced back from their televised defeat to Wycombe with a battling 1-0 victory over Notts County on New Year's Eve, writes Leo Tyrie.

Martin Ling's side were never at their free-flowing best but displayed all the grit of a team destined for success to take all three points.

Jabo Ibehre's header proved to be enough and Ling was delighted.

He said: "There won't be a fitter team in the league because of the work we put in and the adrenaline shot of a goal just before half time was perfect.

"We had the better chances and it could have been more than 1-0 but it was a good solid performance, probably the type of win that gets you promotion." After a turgid opening half-hour, a string of chances from corners brought the game to life.

On 31 minutes Matt Lockwood's deep right wing flag-kick found Joe Keith who sent a header flashing wide of keeper Kevin Pilkington's far post.

Craig Easton's inswinger was headed down by Gabby Zakuani four minutes later. Shane Tudor reacted well to swivel and shoot goalwards but Pilkington spread himself to block.

The same player flicked over Pilkington's crossbar two minutes before the interval.

In first-half stoppage time, Gary Alexander flicked Glyn Garner's long kick into Tudor's path and the winger crossed perfectly for Ibehre to head his fifth of the season.

County wasted a couple of good opportunities after the break with Liam Needham and Daniel Martin both drawing good stops from Garner when they should have done better.

The hosts also went close through John Mackie and Alexander as they dug in to record a deserved home win.