O'S GOALKEEPER Jamie Jones pulled off a series of outstanding saves, including a second-half penalty taken by Glenn Murray, to record his second successive clean sheet and win the man-of-the-match rating as Orient moved into the next round of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy with a 2-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday night.
Afterwards he spoke to leytonorient.com
Jamie, you must be personally delighted with your performances in the last two matches?
"Yes, it's been perfect for me, two clean sheets and two wins for the team. We have the mentality that if we keep a clean sheet, we are going to win the game because we are equally confident that we are going to score."
The Johnstone's Paint Trophy is not always taken as a serious competition by some clubs but Orient put on a thoroughly professional display at Brighton...
"We go into every game looking to win, no cup for this club is a jolly-up, we want to win each and every game and we've shown that tonight with a 2-0 win."
You played a key part in that success, including a terrific penalty save from Glenn Murray minutes into the second-half...
"Yes, it's always great for a keeper when you save them but I just gambled going the right way and luckily enough, I saved it."
Is it a pure gamble Jamie or is there a strategy you have?
"I always feel confident that I have a chance of saving a penalty, if you don't then nine times out of ten; the ball ends up in the back of the net. But I felt I was going to save his kick, I looked at the way he was placing the ball and I followed the way it looked as it was going and it paid off."
Two wins out of two now, is it a sign that things are beginning to gel for the team?
"Yes, definitely. It's going to take a while for things to come together because we've brought in around nine new players since last season but obviously the results now are starting to show that we are getting things right. Not only are we getting results but we are playing good football as well which is also nice for the fans to see."
Russell Slade made the comment last season that he felt the team's fitness levels might have been better and that's something that has obviously been addressed; we continued to look physically strong as the game progressed...
"Yes, we're a bunch of very fit lads, if you don't play in a game, then you do running it's as simple as that. The gaffer is very strong about fitness and we've got a fitness coach who works us hard but we are showing the benefits out there on the pitch."
The games are coming thick and fast at this time, another one on Saturday when we have a local derby at Dagenham & Redbridge...
"We know that one will be a totally different game to the game we've had against Brighton. Dagenham are one of the sides who lump the ball in the box and we have to deal with that but I'm sure we will rise to the occasion."
Jamie Jones was talking to Matt Hiscock
