ORIENT'S short but enjoyable run in the League Cup came to an end against West Brom on Tuesday, but defender Ben Chorley suggests there are bigger challenges ahead. He spoke to leytonorient.com after the game.
Ben, did West Brom deserve to win 2-0?
"I think in the first half they passed the ball well. West Brom are known as one of the best footballing sides in the Premier League and it didn't really seem like we were at it, so I think overall maybe they deserved to win it. But the boys showed a bit of heart second half, we moved the ball well, and 2-0 is a bit disappointing."
So the second goal flattered them a bit?
"Definitely, and it was scrappy. The first one, he's won a header from a set play, and that's something you don't want to concede, especially in our league, teams try to win game on set plays. So it's two bad goals to give away, and you get punished against teams like this, you see how quickly they move the ball. They've got good players."
Was the idea to get at them a bit more second half?
"I think so, we want to win every game without a doubt, and we want to put tackles in and get about the game, and second half I think was better. I'm sure we'll show more intensity on Saturday."
We've turned in some decent performances so far, but is it vital we start getting wins now?
"Definitely. The luck's been against us a little bit, every time they've had a shot it's ricocheted or it's dropped to them, but it's up to us to defend it, put our bodies in the way. We got our first point in the League on Saturday and that was good, but we want to win every game.
"We had a very hard start to the season, our manager's been saying that too, but eventually you have to play every team home and away so maybe you want to get them out of the way rather than play them later in the season. No disrespect to Exeter, I think they may be in and around us come Christmas time, so we need to start picking up points now and make sure we're at least mid-table then, so we can kick on."
Do you feel this new team has settled down now?
"It'll take time to gel together but there are eight or nine new players compared to last season so it's what we've got to do. The spirit's good, everyone's been getting around each other, we all want to win, the training and intensity is good. It takes time but we've got to do it nice and quickly."
Ben Chorley was talking to Si Hawkins
