Game Fifteen - Leyton Orient away

20th September 2008

So after last weeks shambles at home to Millwall, we were looking for an instance responce and three points away in london and the visit to Leyton Orient. Brisbane Road was the setting for the 15th match this season and my 49th ground.

To be honest, I wasn't in the best frame of mind for this one and the long trip on the coach probably helped as it gave me a chance to sleep and just relax. Lots of things circling in my mind and watching the english countryside pass by the window of the speeding coach helped keep things focussed.

Due to the early departure (9:30am?? Jesus!) we were allowed a long stay in the services giving me ample time to eat and then bump into Jodie in the bookies. No winners today - thankyou very much QPR!! All you had to do was beat Coventry and I'd have won £65. Useless!

Anyway, we arrived and parked up at a fruitmarket a good 10 minutes away from the ground and the 500 or so Leicester fans who'd travelled by coach all made the walk through London drawing some strange looks from the passing motorists.


Arriving at the ground, the players were being allowed off the coach in groups of four (odd!) and I was just in time to see the last three with Maxi Gradel, Paul Henderson, Jack Hobbs and ex England internation Chris Powell. He was clearly very impressed with the bald man thrusting a pen into his hand. I'd like to think a lifelong friendship has been created there!

The outside of the new main stand is very impressive. Offices and a pharmacy are built into it so unless you knew it was a ground you would struggle to spot it from a distance.... although to be fair this big sign does help slightly! The corners of the ground were quite odd too as small towers of flats complete the area with balcony's overlooking the pitch. Now how cool would that be? Just popping onto your balcony on a deck chair and watching the football in the sun with a cold beer? Downside being that you'd have to watch Leyton Orient everyweek but I suppose they may have the odd nice FA Cup tie at home each season if you're lucky?

The other side of the main stand with the offices overlooking the pitch.... and the block of flats in the right corner.

This is where the away fans used to be sat apparentley and boy would I rather have been in there. As we are such a "massive" club (so we're told) we were given the entire east stand running alongside the pitch and I think it's fair to say that no one has been in the section of the stand that I was in for a long time. The thick covering of dust on the seats and floor gave that impression. In fact, I dropped my programme onto the floor and nearly lost sight of my shoes from the dirt rising up. Nice! The wooden seats too.... redefined uncomfortable. Annoyingly I actually had to sit too due to the section being full and the old people behind me looking like they would collapse if made to stand for 90 seconds let alone 90 minutes. One thing that I did note about the stand on the left though was that they still had adverts for Driver 2 on the playstation up.... now that game was released in about 2000, maybe earlier so think they made need to update that!

The other stand, complete with another block of random flats.

Leicester's good away performaces were drawing good followings and even a "celebrity" was out in force for this one. Young Peter Beale from Eastenders took up his position near the front. That's him in the white on the front row, blocking the sun from his eyes.

The away end soon filled up and we were in good voice as the game looked to get underway.
Now rumour has it that a kick off took place but reports are as yet unconfirmed......

The game itself then. And Leicester burst into life from the start and really went at Orient looking to correct the poor result from last week. Matty Fryatt hit the wood work and others went close before some good interplay by Oakley, Fryatt and Howard set Lloyd Dyer in on goal and he made no mistake tucking the ball between the keepers legs. Party time.

We looked like running away with this but Orient slowly came back into it and by half time were level through a well worked corner and looking the more likely to score again. This continued into the second half and nerves were starting to tingle as the home side looked threatening every time they came forward. We only had one real chance and that was when Fryatt lifted the ball over the onrushing keeper only to see it come back off the bar for a second time.

As the 85th minute came round, I was bracing myself for the worse and thinking a draw wouldnt be such a bad result but more drama was to come. Good build up play once more and a shot from Fryatt left DJ Campbell with a tap in.... which he somehow missed and in the scramble that followed, Fryatt managed to poke the ball past the keeper to send us into dreamland! Who ever would have thought that a goal at Leyton Orient would bring so much joy.

With the confidence now sky high, we played a bit of keep ball and before we knew it, Fryatt played King through to slot past the keeper and give us a 3-1 lead that more than flattered us. Cries of E I E I E I O rang around the 2600 Leicester fans as the party really got underway and the home ends emptied around us.

The relief from the players and Nigel Pearson was evident... as was the dismay of the Orient players who fell to their knees. We'd had a real game at Brisbane Road and the three points were vital to us to make sure we didn't fall behind any further than the postponed game with Colchester had put us. Win that game in hand and we go second. Happy Days!

The journey home gave me time to think about the start to the season. How was this only the sixth league game of the season? And what a start it had been really thinking back. 4 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat. I'd have taken that before the MK Dons game and Nigel Pearson is really doing a great job.

All that's left now is to keep the run going and try and win some silverware. Johnstone's Paint Trophy on tuesday night against Lincoln.... could that be the final gloss on what could be a great season? Pun intended.