FEELING THOSE AWAY DAY BLUES

Leyton Orient 2 Exeter City 0.

Friday 9 October 1998.

Referee: J Kirby

Attendance:  3349

EXETER City saw their three-match unbeaten run end in disappointing style at Brisbane Road last night. Sad City crashed to their fifth away defeat of the season and it is almost a year since they last won on their travels, at Brighton on October 18 last year Without the midfield bite of Chris Holloway - called up into the Welsh Under-21 squad for the game against Denmark - Exeter rarely looked like finding a cure for the away day blues. The visitors did make a bright start, but soon faded as Orient took control of the midfield on a wet and windswept night. But Exeter played a part in their own downfall with some slapstick defending as they gift-wrapped Orient's opener in the 20th minute. There looked to be no danger until Graeme Power sliced the ball across his own goal and Orient striker Alex Inglethorpe gleefully slid in to stab the O's ahead from close range. That strike came just four minutes after Darran Rowbotham tested home 'keeper Chris MacKenzie with a 25-yard drive - but that was Exeter's only genuine effort of the first half. Orient-inspired by new signing, former French international striker Amara Simba, making his debut- always looked the likely winners and it was Simba who sent a 34th minute lopping header crashing against the bar with Ashley Bayes beaten. The Frenchman, who won four caps in the early 90s, killed off Exeter's slim revival hopes at the start of the second half when he headed home Matt Lockwood's cross from the left on 47 minutes. Exeter to their credit, did rally and substitute Chris Fry, on for Shaun Gale at the break, looked lively. Indeed it was Fry who had Exeter's best second-half effort when he shot inches wide on 68 minutes. Chris Curran and Jason Rees also caught the eye and worked tirelessly to try and drag Exeter back into the contest. But although the visitors forced morecorners than the home side, they lacked any genuine invention and Orient's rearguard will rarely have a more comfortable 90 minutes.

• Exeter starlet Chris Holloway - born is Swansea was an unused substitute as Wales Under-21s secured a 2-2 draw against Denmark in the European Under-21 qualifying group one match.

Lacklustre Grecians fall

EXETER City boss Peter Fox was an unhappy man when he left Brisbane Road last night. After watching his side crash to a lethargic defeat he said: "I'm really disappointed. But in truth we did not deserve anything from the match." Goals from Alex Inglethorpe and Amara Simba left the Grecians facing the unwanted record of going a full 12 months without an away win. Fox said: "In our previous away games we might not have won, but we have played fairly well - that was until tonight. "I suppose the word to describe our performance would be lacklustre." Fox was also disappointed with the two goals his side conceded: "We gave Orient their goals," he moaned. "I don't know what Graeme Power was doing for the first one and the second was criminal- when that went in we were fighting a losing battle. "We didn't get enough quality balls into the box it was simply not good enough.”  But the City boss did have words of praise for Chris Curran and Jason Rees. "Those two worked tirelessly and its up to the other lads to show that same sort of commitment," he said. "What's annoying is that we made it easy for Orient. We gave away two silly goals but apart from that our 'keeper has not had a save to make." Fox knows his side's dismal away form could sabotage the season: "We need to find the magic formula to win away from home. I just can't put my finger on it. "Half the side is different this season but we still struggle. We are a different side at home and our away form is starting to hold us back," added the City boss.