New season teething problems remain for Leyton Orient as Wycombe exploit some fragile defending
League One
Leyton Orient (1) 2 Grimmer og 37, Kabia 52
Wycombe Wanderers (2) 3 Wareham 13, Onyedinma 45+2, Harvie 47
Leyton Orient fans are still wondering whether they are in for a season which resembled the excellent promotion push of two seasons ago or the one which saw an uncomfortable time just above the relegation zone last term.
This match will have done little to reassure them that the likely pathway is towards glory as they fell to a third successive home defeat in the league and have yet to pick up a point at the Betwright Stadium.
The O's went into this Saturday lunchtime assignment very hopeful of racking up three points against a Wycombe side who had yet to register a league win - and in so doing haul themselves up towards the play-off bracket they seek. But lapses at the back are not making it easy.
Last week's 5-0 thrashing of Bromley in south London gave them the boost they really needed in their league campaign following home defeats to Sheffield Wednesday (1-2), Barnsley (1-3) and Bradford City (1-3) in the league Cup but the hard currency of home points are what they require more urgently now.
Of course, there is still a bit of 'getting to know you' bedding down required. Today's starting line-up featured only four of the players who played in the last match of last season against Burton in May.
But the fans trust in boss Richie Wellens to create order from the upheavals. He has now been at the helm for four and a half years and most of those have more than decent.
The O's were quickly on the front foot, with centre half Joseph Olowu twice getting on the end of corners to nod just wide of the far post before Idris El Mizouni sent a shot from outside the box against the crossbar.
But sloppy defensive play gave Wanderers a head start. Skipper Isaac Hayden received the ball from Fin Stevens just outside the box and had the ball pinched off him by Ewan Henderson - allowing Jayden Wareham plenty of room to fire across keeper Nathan Baxter into the bottom corner.
Demetri Mitchell passed up a great chance to draw the O's level when he fresh-aired a square ball from Charlie Wellens and Will Forrester sent a head across the face of goal that was screaming out for the merest touch from anyone.
But they did not have too long to dwell on the near misses. Tottenham loanee Yusuf Akhamrich - who featured in the programme and declared his desire to be a 'great entertainer' - bent a cross towards the near post that Chairboys skipper Jack Grimmer could only guide into the top corner of his own net with a misplaced header..
Parity was fairly short-lived. Baxter made a good flying save to his left to keep out a firm hit from just outside the box by Wareham, but could do nothing about a glancing header by Fred Oyedinma which flew in off a post - the midfielder getting on the end of a first-time cross from the right by Henderson.
It threatened to get much worse for Orient soon after the restart. Baxter did well to palm away a fierce shot from Aaron Morley, but the midfielder's subsequent corner was headed in at the near post by defender Dan Harvie.
Wellens' men grabbed a lifeline moments later when Jaze Kabia touched in a cross from the right from Akhamrich to reduce the arrears and keep the game more or less on an even keel. But chances to get back to 3-3 were limited as Wycombe made sure of that first win of the campaign.
Much to do then, for the O's, whose next chance to break their home duck is next Saturday against Stevenage.
O's: (3-4-2-1) Baxter - Stevens, Olowu (Scarlett 82), Forrester - Wellens, Hayden (Gilbert 62), El Mizouni, Clare - Akhamrich, Mitchell (Dobra 39) - Kabia
Chairboys: (4-2-3-1) Hazard - Grimmer, Hagelskjaer (Taylor 78), Cook, Harvie - Morley (Scowen 68), Boyd-Munce - Onyedinma, Woodrow (Leahy 90), Henderson - Wareham
Attendance: 7,171
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