Rivals Rochdale and Exeter lose, but Bournemouth come from behind to clinch victory

Carlisle United 0 Leyton Orient 1

A goal from Frenchman Jonathan Tehoue kept Orient’s play-off hopes alive as they completed a six-point haul over Easter with this win at Carlisle on Monday.

With play-off rivals Rochdale and Exeter both losing, the only disappointment was that Bournemouth snatched two late goals to earn a victory against Bristol Rovers.

It means the O’s are currently in seventh place, three points behind the Cherries, and both have two games left to play.

Orient boss Russell Slade was forced to make three changes from the side that had beaten Peterborough on Friday.

The big surprise was that keeper Jamie Jones was ruled out because of injury, as was Scott McGleish was only fit enough to take his place on the bench, while on-loan Tottenham youngster Harry Kane alos dropped out of the starting 11.

The trio were replaced by keeper Lee Butcher, midfielder Jason Crowe and striker Tehoue.

And it was Butcher who became an instant hero when he saved a penalty after just seven minutes.

Defender Terrell Forbes was adjudged to have fouled Craig Curran, but Butcher, whose last first-team appearance was against Dagenham & Redbridge in an FA Cup first round replay last November, saved James Berrett’s spot kick.

Orient had to withstand a constant bombardment from the home side during the early stages and Butcher was in action again on 20 minutes when he made a smart stop from Francois Zoko.

As the home side continued to press forward, Forbes atoned for his earlier error when he cleared an attempt from Zoko.

But O’s slowly weathered the storm and midway through the half they almost took the lead when Adam Barrett sent a close-range header just wide following a Dean Cox cross.

It was O’s who struck first when they caught the Cumbrians with a sucker punch. Nine minutes before the break Cox found Tehoue and the Frenchman fired home from the edge of the area - his 11th goal of the season and the first he has netted when he has started a game!

The O’s striker went close to adding a second on the stroke of half-time, but O’s were delighted to hear the half-time whistle.

After the break the game followed a similar pattern and Butcher gathered a Lubomir Michalik cross, before Liam Noble sent a header wide of the target.

But O’s still had their moments and Barrett headed a free-kick from Cox just wide of the mark from 16 yards on the hour.

It was Orient who came closest to scoring again 20 minutes from time when midfielder Adam Chambers fired in an effort from 20 yards that thudded against the woodwork.

Twenty seconds later the O’s man was booked for a foul and then 19 minutes from time Orient made their first change when McGleish replaced goal-hero Tehoue.

But it was Carlisle who went close again, when 17 minutes from time Matthew Robson played the ball in and Zoko fired over the bar from close range.

A minute later the same pair combined again, and this time Zoko headed wide from close in, as O’s came under pressure again.

But O’s held on despite a couple of scares in stoppage time when first Ryan Bowman saw wn effort saved by Butcher and then Rory Loy headed over a Robson cross from inside the six-yard box on 94 minutes.

Leyton Orient: Butcher, Omozusi, Barrett, Forbes, Daniels, Spring, Chambers, Dawson, Crowe, Cox (Jarvis 83 mins), Tehoue (McGleish 71). Subs: Lovelock, Carroll, Odubajo, Kane.

Attendance: 4,685

Orient bookings: Chambers, Daniels.