Matt Gray salutes Sutton’s character after win over Leyton Orient
Posted Sunday, April 10, 2022 by PA
Sutton boss Matt Gray praised his players for bouncing back from their heart-breaking Papa John’s Trophy final defeat by beating Leyton Orient 1-0 at Gander Green Lane.
The U’s suffered heartache at Wembley last week as they lost to League One Rotherham in extra-time.
But Joe Kizzi’s header secured Gray’s side a welcome three points as their attention turns fully to trying to secure a League Two play-off spot.
The vital victory left them within touching distance, two points off the coveted top seven with a game in hand over the majority of their rivals.
Gray said: “The players have bounced back really well today and that was the most important thing.
“After the disappointment of last week and how much we put into it and how tired the lads were this week after playing 120 minutes to come straight back into a tough league game I’m really pleased.
“The most important thing especially at this stage of the season, let alone the week we’ve had, was to get three points.
“First half we were outstanding and probably could have put the game out of sight.
“Second half, not that we were hanging on, Orient had a lot of the ball without really hurting us. We saw it out reasonably comfortably and it’s a massive three points.
“They’ve got good players, they are a big club for this division. They had only lost one since Richie (Wellens) had taken over so we knew it was going to be a tough game.
“We’re really pleased to beat a dangerous team. The lads looked dead on their feet so I won’t be moaning at them too much.”
Orient goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux pulled off some fine stops to keep the visitors in the game.
But they squandered their chances in the second half as Sutton held on.
Boss Richie Wellens, whose side have lost just twice since he took the helm, reflected: “I’m frustrated that we’ve lost the game.
“Did we deserve to lose the game? On the balance of play, especially in the second half, probably not.
“When you start like that, it was men against boys because they put the balls in areas and made it hard to defend, it’s tough.
“We just had no physicality and no decision-making to deal with it. There were players in there who wanted to play their own game.
“In terms of the second half it was total domination. If we would have been a bit more dynamic we could have caused more problems.
“Did we deserve to win the game? They would say they started the game well and we haven’t so it’s our own fault.
“A few players didn’t do themselves justice, especially in the first 30 minutes.”
- Tag:
Photos
More»
Eugenie Bouchard sends fans wild in barely-there bikini
Friday April 19 2024
Paige Spiranac shows off underboob in new racy snap
Friday April 19 2024
Ex-Barcelona WAG strips completely naked
Thursday April 18 2024
Your Say