Leyton Orient win dedicated to Edinburgh

Leyton Orient interim manager Ross Embleton dedicated the 1-0 win over Cheltenham to the memory of his former boss Justin Edinburgh.

Orient had marked their return to the Football League with a 1-0 win thanks to a Josh Wright goal, who was the last signing made by the former O’s boss  before he died aged 49 in June.

“I think Justin would have been proud of that performance,” Embleton said. “I hope it doesn’t get smothered by the fact they finished the game with nine men.

“We were very conscious of how the start of the game would be and we just wanted to get over that hurdle to settle and give ourselves a chance.”

On the Cheltenham penalty shout early in the game, he reflected: “I haven’t seen it again and I understand Dean was kicked in the head and suffered a concussion which to me means that Varney made contact with Brill’s head but I know they will look another way.

“It was fitting that Josh Wright got the winner. There were a number of players out there today that had they scored would have dedicated it to the Gaffer (Edinburgh) but given Josh’s history, his first start on his return to the club in the league, I am delighted for him because he has made a key mark on the game.

“I’m delighted to get the first win of my career as a manager but I think we have character in the dressing room and I have just said to the lads, the way they have come through the summer, the way we have helped each other through it including the new lads and the togetherness that Justin always encouraged has been maintained and today was a real sign of that.”

Orient are still coming to terms with the death of Edinburgh after he had led them back into the Football League.

Amongst a number of acts of tribute to the former Tottenham full-back was a banner from Cheltenham proclaiming “He Made You Dream Again” and one from O’s stating, “National League Champions, you made us sing that!!! #Do it for Justin.”

Orient took the lead in the 68th minute through Wright before their opponents were reduced to nine-men with the dismissals of Luke Varney and Rohan Ince by referee Michael Salisbury.

Cheltenham boss Michael Duff felt that neither of his player’s deserved to be dismissed.

“Varney’s first booking was for simulation but it was definitely a penalty,” he said. “His second card came as two players came together but there was no swinging elbow or leading with the arm so that was disappointing.

“Rohan Ince was sent off for throwing a water bottle at the fourth official.  He’d just come off the pitch to have a drink and as he’s thrown the empty water bottle to the floor, it’s hit the fourth official.

“We went too long in the first half and then second half, we never got going. We needed to find an extra pass in the second-half but we didn’t do that.

“After those two sending offs, I thought the lads were excellent. We’ve played with nine-men for 25 minutes. We went 4-2-2 after the sending offs and after the game, the lads were absolutely dead on their feet.

“I’m not just hiding behind the referee because there were some things that we could have done better and the goal was a poor goal to give away. It is a what-if situation as far as I’m concerned because if we had got that penalty after five minutes or so, what might have happened and how would Orient have reacted.

“But goals and big decisions change game and you need a little bit of luck sometimes.”