Leyton Orient and Fulham played out a dour goalless draw in front of a bumper Boxing Day crowd at Brisbane Road this afternoon.
Orient’s outstanding home form has delivered 28 goals in action-packed games in east London this season but the Whites’ well-drilled defence handled the hosts forward line impressively and Don Mackay’s men had the better of the chances in this stalemate. Loan signing John McGlashan enjoyed an excellent game and might easily have followed him his goal at Blackpool last week when his 55-yard rampaging run took him past four O’s defenders only for his finish to trickle agonosingly wide of Paul Heald’s far post.
McGlashan then showcased his fine hold-up play by creating a glorious chance for captain Jeff Eckhardt, but the midfielder blazed badly over when it looked easier to find the net. A lacklustre Orient outfit only came alive in the final quarter of this London derby when former Fulham forward Kenny Achampong came off the bench. Jim Stannard made a superb save to keep out Terry Howard’s curling free-kick with three minutes to go as both sides had to settle for a share of the spoils.
Orient manager Peter Eustace admitted afterwards: “We showed too much Christmas spirit to Fulham. But twelve months we probably would have lost a match like this.”
LEYTON ORIENT: Heald; Warren, Howard, Bellamy, Kitchen; Carter, Hales (Harvey 65), M. Cooper, Otto (Achampong 65), Jones, Taylor.
BOOKED: Cooper, Jones.
FULHAM: Stannard; Eckhardt, Nebbeling, G. Thomas, Pike, Marshall, Newson, Onwere, M. Cooper, McGlashan, Brazil (Hails 75). Subs (not used): Morgan.
BOOKED: Pike, Nebbeling, Newson.
REFEREE: Tony Ward (Southgate).
ATTENDANCE: 8,431.
