McGleish salvages a point against bright and breezy Brighton

08 February 2010

Leyton Orient 1 Brighton & Hove Albion 1

STRIKER Scott McGleish grabbed his 11th goal of the season and spared the blushes of home keeper Jamie Jones, as the O's stretched their unbeaten run to five games.

Relegation-haunted Brighton & Hove Albion had taken a 10th-minute lead when the O's keeper made a mess of a back pass and miskicked the ball straight to visiting striker Glenn Murray, who stroked the ball into an empty net.

But McGleish earned the O's a point when he levelled eight minutes into the second half, blasting the ball home after Sean Thornton's free-kick had been blocked by Adam Virgo.

In an entertaining game the O's started well, but once Murray fired the visitors ahead, they had the chances to wrap things up before half-time.

Tommy Elphick should have done better when he scuffed a shot from close range and McGleish, back helping his defence, almost scored an own goal, as he sent a header bouncing on the bar.

Murray had another effort ruled out for offside following a cross from the dangerous Liam Dickenson, but perhaps the pivotal moment arrived on 35 minutes when O's defender Ben Chorley pushed Dickinson in the area.

Referee Steve Cook missed the incident and Brighton boss Gus Poyet was so incensed that he was sent to the stand after confronting the official.

O's had their moments. Skipper Stephen Purches missed a good chance to add to his strike against Bristol Rovers after Ryan Jarvis and McGleish provided the opening and then McGleish went close before the interval.

After the break O's improved but neither side could force a winner and after the game O's boss Geraint Williams said: "We have to be satisfied with a point because we can't change it, but I think the players did everything they could to get the win.

"If you look at the game overall, it's probably a fair result, because Brighton were a handful on the break and you can see why they have got such a good away record.

"We're disappointed because we wanted to win the game, but it's a satisfactory point, so we will take it and move on. All credit to the players for digging out a point."

And the O's boss defender goalkeeper Jones after his error had led to the Brighton goal.

"Everyone makes errors on a football pitch and unfortunately for goalkeepers theirs are magnified by 100 per cent because, usually, one of their errors costs a goal," added Williams.

"That's a big part of being in that position and if you can't take that then you shouldn't be a goalkeeper. But Jamie can and he proved that with the save he made in the second half.