Pompey 0 Leyton Orient 1: Nolan believes win should have been bigger

Kevin Nolan told Pompey: We should have won by more.
Kevin Nolan. Picture: Joe PeplerKevin Nolan. Picture: Joe Pepler
Kevin Nolan. Picture: Joe Pepler

The Leyton Orient boss lauded the character of his team as they picked up a big 1-0 win at Fratton Park on Saturday.

That saw them leapfrog the Blues in the table as they went up to sixth place.

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It also buried the frustration of a 3-1 home defeat to Cambridge United last weekend for the O’s.

Nolan felt the real Orient turned up against Pompey in the clash.

Nolan told leytonorient.com: ‘Last week we looked flat.

‘On Saturday you saw a different team.

‘We did exactly what was asked of us. We could have come away with three or four.

‘With the quality we had, we should have put a few more away.’

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Nolan underlined he had to make some tough selection decisions after being backed by his club’s controversial owners in the transfer market.

He felt the response of the players he left out was a big plus.

Nolan said: ‘I’ve been backed by the president and the support team.

‘They’ve backed me massively.

‘I knew they’d make our squad stronger and make it harder to pick the team.

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‘It was hard leaving some of them out but the camaraderie they’ve shown was brilliant.

‘We need a mentality where we’re all in it together because I’m going to need that squad throughout this season.

‘I’m under no illusions that they’re all going to be needed and they’re all going to play a big part hopefully in getting this club up.’

Nolan sounded a note of caution after the win for his side, although taking Pompey’s scalp was a cause for satisfaction.

He said: ‘It’s three points.It feels better against a rival but our feet are firmly on the floor.

‘We now need to prepare right for Northampton.’

– JORDAN CROSS