Leyton Orient 2 Hartlepool United 1

They have now done the double over Pools.
The only bright spot for Pools was that Newport County were whacked 6-1 at Plymouth. It is to be hoped they are as demoralised after that result as Pools appear to be.
Their ill-discipline and attitude was summed up in injury time as defender Liam Donnelly was sent-off. Frustrated as a decision went against him, he chased referee Dean Whitestone and was booked for his efforts.
He then decided to square up to the official, going head to head with him and Donnelly, who suffered a woeful performance, was quite rightly sent-off. 
“I can’t actually bring myself to ask Liam what he was doing, he was upset felt he could have had a foul but you can’t square up to a referee,’’ said boss Dave Jones. 
“If the referee report goes in it (a ban) might be more than one game. Stupid. You can’t square up to a referee. But where were my players pulling him away?’’
This was supposedly Pools’ banker three points. Instead they left London with their heads down, confidence bashed and fearful for their future. 
Orient’s fifth home win of the season means they have now earned as many victories at the Matchroom Stadium as they have had managers.
Pools actually took the lead. They didn’t know what to do with it and crumbled. 
Boss Dave Jones felt his players froze: “There’s three games to go and they froze today for the first time, they’ve got it out of the system and got their backsides smacked and lost the game and freeze again and it happens again.
“Get it out of the system and now it’s about how strong mentally they are.’’
If they can freeze against Orient then heaven help them. There’s three games to go, three games of paramount importance. Pools have always been a Football League club, and if things don’t improve drastically then 109 years of history will have a new non-league chapter. 
Rhys Oates, with his second goal in as many games, put Pools in front on eight minutes, holding off defenders and pushing the ball across keeper Sam Sargeant into the far corner of the net. 
But instead of managing the game like professional footballers do – remember Carlisle killing things at every opportunity on Good Friday? – Pools crumbled. 
They invited pressure, inviting the opposition onto them. 
Young, youthful and exuberant Orient had too much about them for Pools, who couldn’t cope.
Donnelly, who has struggled since returning to the side, was weak on the left side and beaten by Michael Clark too easily, and his cross was met by Victor Adeboyejo who turned home from close range.
Lewis Alessandra had a chance to level. Padraig Amond could have had a shot, but the angle was tight and he did the right thing in picking out his team-mate.
Presented with only keeper Sargeant to beat, he weakly poked the ball into the keeper first-time. 
Little wonder Alessandra always prefers a touch to assure himself in front of goal rather than playing instinctively. 
Orient took the lead when Donnelly was again culpable as he and Scott Harrison were cut open and Tristan Abrahams smashed past Joe Fryer from the edge of the area. 
Nathan Thomas moved to the left, perhaps to offer some support to Donnelly, but Pools were guilty of lumping long balls up to Amond again. It’s proved in the last few games it doesn’t work. 
Michael Woods replaced Nicky Deverdics, following 45 minutes of strife for the recalled midfielder . Fryer saved well from Adeboyajo at the start of the second half. 
Thomas had a shot, but used the outside of his boot rather than putting his foot through it. 
Oates appeared to take his eyes off the ball when he attempted to head in from inside the six yard box and the ball evaded Amond at the far post. 
The top scorer was replaced by Devante Rodney soon afterwards. It was a bewildering decision by the manager. 
Oates had another chance, but this time missed his kick in front of goal, passing it weakly inside the six-yard box.
Jones admitted: “It’s hard to describe, we knew everything about them – a young team playing with no fear. 
“Second half we were a bit better, but we all know in that dressing room what we have to do and where we are, we have to do it.
“We go in front, against a young Orient side but they won’t lay down and die. We had to match that enthusiasm and in all honesty one of two of them froze today, more than one or two of them.
“We are a united dressing room, we are all in it together. Start with me, did I pick the right formation? The right team? Did the players perform? It’s a team effort.
“Today we were lucky as other results have gone for us and we have got away with it. 
“Three games to go and we rely on Newport. I saw too many players struggling with maybe the pressure.’’
He added: “We have had second half chances to get a goal, but we have to put them away. We were very lucky with Newport losing and that can’t happen all the time.
“First half we had better chances, put them away and it goes quiet. Maybe they felt they did it after going in front. It’s hard to say the right things so soon after the game, but this shocked me today, certainly the first 45 minutes and that’s not what I’m about or the players.’’