Match ends, Colchester United 2, Leyton Orient 0.
ColchesterColchester United2Leyton OrientLeyton Orient0
Colchester secured a vital victory over fellow strugglers Leyton Orient but remain two points from safety at the foot of League One.
Gavin Massey opened the scoring for the hosts as he swept home from close in.
Kaspars Gorkss' header doubled the lead before Chris Dagnall thought he had pulled one back for Orient, only for his effort to be ruled out for offside.
The hosts' win was soured when Elliott Hewitt was shown a straight red card for a foul on Romain Vincelot.
The U's leapfrog Orient as a result of the win but both teams remain in the League One relegation zone.
Leyton Orient manager Fabio Liverani told BBC London 94.9:
"We have to fight until 2 May, the last game to avoid relegation because this is what we can fight for. Last season was great, but it has passed so this season it is a strong battle to avoid relegation.
"We knew that Colchester would push a lot in the first 20 minutes and we prepared for the game in that way but then on the pitch it was a different story.
"They showed more desire and hunger than us and this is what I said to the players - we have to play with that sort of spirit to go ahead and progress in the league."
Line-ups
Colchester
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Walker
- 20Clohessy
- 13Gorkss
- 18EastmanBooked at 44mins
- 15Briggs
- 38Fox
- 32Lapslie
- 28SzmodicsBooked at 74minsSubstituted forMoncurat 84'minutes
- 41HewittBooked at 83mins
- 42PorterSubstituted forBonneat 90+2'minutes
- 21MasseySubstituted forGordonat 86'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Gordon
- 7Sanchez Watt
- 11Marriott
- 12Lewington
- 24Moncur
- 27Bonne
- 37Sembie-Ferris
Leyton Orient
Formation 4-3-3
- 33Woods
- 3SawyerSubstituted forDossenaat 88'minutes
- 15Clarke
- 12Lowry
- 35Eardley
- 26Lundstram
- 4VincelotBooked at 75mins
- 7Cox
- 34HedgesSubstituted forPritchardat 85'minutes
- 10MooneySubstituted forPlasmatiat 64'minutes
- 23Dagnall
Substitutes
- 2Omozusi
- 16Lee
- 17Wright
- 18Pritchard
- 21Grainger
- 30Plasmati
- 32Dossena
- Referee:
- Mark Heywood
- Attendance:
- 5,668
Match Stats
Home TeamColchesterAway TeamLeyton Orient
- Possession
- Home42%
- Away58%
- Shots
- Home5
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away7
- Corners
- Home6
- Away7
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Colchester United 2, Leyton Orient 0.
Post update
Attempt saved. Romain Vincelot (Leyton Orient) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Post update
Corner, Leyton Orient. Conceded by Matthew Briggs.
Substitution
Substitution, Colchester United. Macauley Bonne replaces Chris Porter.
Post update
Attempt saved. Chris Dagnall (Leyton Orient) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Post update
Corner, Leyton Orient. Conceded by Sam Walker.
Post update
Attempt saved. John Lundstram (Leyton Orient) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Substitution
Substitution, Leyton Orient. Andrea Dossena replaces Gary Sawyer.
Post update
Corner, Leyton Orient. Conceded by Tom Eastman.
Substitution
Substitution, Colchester United. Ben Gordon replaces Gavin Massey.
Substitution
Substitution, Leyton Orient. Bradley Pritchard replaces Ryan Hedges.
Post update
Attempt missed. George Moncur (Colchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Substitution
Substitution, Colchester United. George Moncur replaces Sammie Szmodics.
Dismissal
Elliott Hewitt (Colchester United) is shown the red card for a bad foul.
Post update
Romain Vincelot (Leyton Orient) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Elliott Hewitt (Colchester United).
Post update
Corner, Colchester United. Conceded by Nathan Clarke.
Post update
Foul by Ryan Hedges (Leyton Orient).
Post update
Matthew Briggs (Colchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
