After the previous week’s defeat at the hands of an old foe in the form of Stevenage, and to a lesser extent the shambolic loss to Gillingham in the Pizza Cup (EFL Trophy), it is probably fair to say that you would have been hard pushed to find an O’s fan going into the away game against top of the table Exeter who was massively optimistic. Some of our number (yours truly most definitely included!) were simply hoping to not get humbled again, while others felt the best we could hope for was a 3-0 defeat (Hi Darin!).

As we know all too well, St James Park has not been a happy hunting ground for Orient over recent decades, in fact we hadn’t actually managed to win there since January 2001. So to pull off a victory with a goal in added time was more than many of us could have dreamed of.

Having expressed his regret at the decision to not change a winning team ahead of the clash with Stevenage a week earlier (Orient Nerd Weekly Ramblings- Orient humbled at home by a familiar foe.), the gaffer certainly made sure he didn’t make the same mistake for a second week in succession. Out went Dan Happe and Ed Turns and in came a back three of: Tom James, Omar Beckles and new signing Brandon Cooper. We opted for a four man midfield which saw Theo Archibald and Jordan Graham playing on their natural sides flanking El Miz and the returning skipper (and much missed against Stevenage!) Darren Pratley. While our front three saw George Moncur unusually operating from the right wing with Ruel Sotiriou nominally on the left hand side and Joe Pigott leading the line.

Personally I thought the selection made a lot of sense, although I was among many that were surprised that there was no starting berth for Ethan Galbraith who had impressed in his previous outings, and at Shaq Forde not starting as the central striker given the struggles and lack of confidence that has been all too evident from Joe Pigott.

Despite coming into the game on the back of four wins out of their opening six league matches with just two goals conceded, injury and international call-ups meant that Exeter boss Gary Caldwell had to make seven changes to his side. Whilst that is of course a mitigating factor as was the relative youthfulness of the side, it was the way Orient controlled the game right from the start that was the biggest determinant of the result.

We looked very bright right from the kick off and had a great opportunity to open the scoring just six minutes in but Omar Beckles’ header from a corner came crashing back off the bar. After that there was a glorious chance for Ruel Sotiriou but he dragged his effort wide when it looked easier to score, and Brandon Cooper saw another effort from a corner flick off the crossbar. Despite all our good work we went in at the break all square and I have to say that while I was happy with the way we had started, especially after the capitulation the previous week, there was still a nagging little fear at the back of my mind that things would go against us in the second period.

I genuinely thought my worries were coming to fruition when just three minutes into the second half, Tom James made a complete mess of trying to clear a ball hooked over the top and Dimitri Mitchell rifled a stunning dipping volley home leaving Sol Brynn with little chance. Was another defensive error going to undo our good work up to that point yet again?

Thankfully conceding a goal only seemed to spur us on even more and just seven minutes later Jordan Graham beat his man on the right wing and clipped in a peach of a cross that Joe Pigott controlled on his chest before firing home on the turn. If we are going to try to play to the big number 9’s strengths then crosses like that are the exact type of ammunition that he needs. Taking his chance so well will also have no doubt done wonders for his confidence.

From there on only one team looked like they would win it. Cooper displaying something of an unexpected attacking threat from a central defender, forced the keeper into a save and then Tom James fired a free kick from a decent range off target. But, we had to wait until the second minute of added time for Ruel Sotiriou to settle the match: firing a low effort from about 30 yards that the keeper couldn’t deal with and sparking absolute bedlam in an already exuberant away end.

Speaking after that match, despite having had to watch it from the stand due to serving the last game of his two-match touchline ban, Richie suggested: “We didn’t play as much as we usually do… we didn’t pass it as much [as usual], but we had a game plan.” The change of approach tactically was also something that Orient legend Peter Kitchen picked up in his usual column in the Yellow Advertiser concluding about the effective switch to a 3-4-3 system: “Having the flexibility to see a different way and being able to change the format when it isn’t working is a positive step forward for the manager, giving Wellens more options with team selection and how he uses his players to meet the different weekly challenges posed by different opposition and styles of play.”

Last week we considered the fact that we didn’t seem to have been able to settle on a definitive first choice eleven or perhaps the system to get the best out of them, thanks in no small part to injuries, illness, a suspension, and lack of match sharpness. Perhaps the realisation going into this season at a higher level has been that we won’t be able to approach each game in the same manner as we were able to do for most of the last campaign? Maybe the squad has been constructed with a view to having different options depending on the opposition, the way they set up, and their approach?

Saturday’s match at Exeter wasn’t just an encouraging performance on the pitch it was another highly enjoyable awayday. Coming on the back of last season’ brilliantly successful season, there seems to be a real buzz and enjoyment in this term’s trips. In fairness we have been blessed with some pretty good ones in Charlton, Wycombe, Blackpool; and maybe it was the sunny weather and the holiday-like feeling that it created but this last one to Exeter was fantastic fun from start to finish.

None of the 469 who made the trip will ever forget one of our number getting carried away in his excitement, jumping over the barrier and booting the ball away after Ruel’s winner, or the “Shirts off for the Orient” shenanigans captured so well in the official photographs. However the missus and I were also highly impressed at watching Lord Dazza’s (@darenreisman) new “Daddy Daycare” venture in which he (just about, it has to be said!) managed to keep a track of the whereabouts of the two younger travelling fans he had been asked to look after and ensure that they got home safely. We can only wonder if this might be a genuine new business opportunity for this man of so many talents!

Next up of course is another away trip, our fifth in our opening eight league matches, this time to Peterborough. As we know The Posh are a well-established League 1 side, with a very experienced manager in Darren Ferguson, who only the season before last reached the giddy heights of the Championship. They started this campaign with three straight wins only to then lose the next three to leave them with the very definition of a 50/50 record. It looks like another tough test but given the way it feels like we are beginning to adjust to the demands of the third tier and to settle into it, another positive performance and result is in no way beyond us. Here’s hoping!

Up the O’s!