Gaughan Group Stadium will host Sky Bet League One on Tuesday night .
The O’s tried their hardest for the full ninety minutes, but they were never able to settle into a routine.
The greatest opportunity belonged to replacement Ruel Sotiriou, whose drive in the second half was expertly deflected by Vale custodian Connor Ripley into the crossbar. Conversely, Orient never truly seemed to be in danger of losing.
Four changes were made by Richie Wellens to the starting lineup from the Saturday match at Wigan Athletic: Rob Hunt, Joe Pigott, Jordan Brown, and Jayden Sweeney all entered the lineup.
Sotiriou, Tom James, Darren Pratley, and Ethan Galbraith were all replaced; the latter was given a two-match ban, while the other three were all placed on the bench.
Early in the game, Jesse Debrah, the centre back, gave Port Vale a scare when his back header nearly looped over goalie Ripley’s head. Luckily for him, his stopper reversed course and nearly grabbed it from the air.
Midway through the half, Brandon Cooper headed wide from an Ollie O’Neill corner, and the visitors wasted the following two, which had been few and far between up to that point.
Initially, James Wilson, the striker, volleyed off target after being found out by a cross from former O Gavin Massey. Debrah then nodded over the bar from a wide free-kick.
After being excellently set up by Sweeney, Shaq Forde was knocked down in the area on 39 minutes, and his shouts for a penalty were denied down. The O’s forward subsequently had a drive deflected inches wide after cutting in from the right flank.
Leyton Orient 0–0 Port Vale at the half
In the first minute of the second half, Forde and Pigott played a great combination play that ended with the latter sending a cross shot into Ripley’s arms.
On minute 49, winger Alex Mighten was given a chance to shoot, giving Port Vale a chance of their own. Sol Brynn managed to beat it away and reach safety by throwing his body behind the endeavour.
On minute 57, the O’s made three substitutions: Pratley, James, and Sotiriou. The addition of new players nearly ignited the game as Ripley had to block a dangerous cross just after the change.
The finest of Orient’s play came from wide areas, and on minute sixty-five, Forde reached the byline only to have Ripley stop his cut-back once more.
Twenty minutes from time, Sotiriou mishandled a shot on the turn, and Ripley then expertly turned Forde’s curling effort over the crossbar.
On minute 78, the two O’s collaborated effectively and made Ripley work even harder as Forde substituted in for Sotiriou, whose shot the custodian tipped over the bar.
It turned out to be the finest opportunity of the game when Orient was unable to hit the back of the net in the last minutes of play, including four minutes of stoppage time, and the game finished even.
