In this new series, Davis Watson will be taking a look back at a Leyton Orient fixture from the past. First up, Leyton Orient vs Tottenham.
This week in 1978, Orient made the short journey to north London and drew 1-1 with Tottenham Hotspur.
The Clubs
The teams had already drawn 1-1 back in October at Brisbane Road, meaning Spurs failed to beat a strong O’s side that season - the only other time Orient managed to hold off Spurs in two consecutive games was back in the 1908/09 season, when Orient won 1-0 at White Hart Lane in front of 33,000 fans and then held them to a scoreless in the return game three days later.
The Teams
A future Orient player, Peter Taylor, featured in the Spurs side. The Essex born midfielder is now employed as manager of Dagenham and Redbridge. There were other players of note in their side, notably future England manager Glenn Hoddle and Spurs legend Steve Perryman, who racked up over 650 appearances for the club in 17 years - some O’s fans may recall seeing him at Brizzy in recent years as a director of Exeter City, a role he no longer has.
Meanwhile, the O’s team that day Jackson, Fisher, Roffey, Allen, Roeder, Mayo, Kitchen, Payne, Grealish, Clarke and Gray. It was one of only eleven league games for David Payne that year and similarly only one of 12 for Clarke. It was also only Nigel Gray’s 8th game back after not playing since he featured against Fulham in the League Cup back in August. Gray was there to cover for Phil Hoadley who did not play at Spurs that day.
The Game
The draw meant that Spurs were now unbeaten in 13 league games and they would not lose in their next 6 either - their next loss was away to Burnley on the 1st of April. Meanwhile, the O’s had only won one away game all season; away at Fulham, so a point was a respectable result.
Orient’s first game at the Lane since 1963 started with Orient placed 15th in the league and Tottenham 1st; three points clear of second placed Bolton. Goals in the game, both of which came in the second half, came from Colin Lee (Spurs) and Joe Mayo (Orient).
Orient went into the game off of a 0-0 draw at home to Chelsea in the FA Cup fifth round five days later and I’m sure they could be excused for being more than just a little bit distracted by the replay that was going to be held at Stamford Bridge in 48 hours time. It did not help that Allen, Payne and Clarke had all played against Chelsea Reserves on the Wednesday afternoon as well. It was a tired and distracted O’s team that day, but they did well to get a point against high flying Spurs.
The Future
As all O’s fans know, the O’s managed to beat Chelsea on that Monday night and would then knock out Middlesborough (after a replay), but would fall to Arsenal in the semi-final at Stamford Bridge. In the end, Orient narrowly avoided relegation on the last day of the season, thanks to a win at Cardiff (helped by former O, the late Paul Went missing an open goal...) while Spurs finished third, on goal difference, and went back to the First Division. They have not dropped out of the top division since.
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