Pilgrims punish managerless Orient
Goals from Jimmy Spencer and Ryan Donaldson earned Sky Bet League Two leaders Plymouth a 2-0 win at nine-man Leyton Orient.
It was to prove a baptism of fire for O's interim manager Andy Edwards, who stood in after Andy Hessenthaler was sacked on Monday.
With only 20 seconds on the clock, Orient captain Robbie Weir lunged in with a heavy tackle on Ben Purrington and was shown a red card by referee Charles Breakspear.
On 12 minutes, the table-toppers took the lead when David Goodwillie slipped a free-kick past a static home defence for Spencer to run on and slide the ball past keeper Alex Cisak.
Then O's midfielder Liam Kelly limped out of the game with an injury.
Orient's problems were further compounded two minutes later when their debutant defender Jens Janse saw red.
He was adjudged to be the last man when he brought down Jake Jervis and was sent off.
The home side showed battling qualities against an Argyle outfit for whom Graham Carey was an influential playmaker.
However the visitors failed to add to the slender advantage as Cisak parried away a Carey effort and then saved a close-range shot by Spencer.
Early in the second period, Nigel Atangana, who had replaced Kelly, was himself substituted after suffering a leg injury.
The one-way traffic continued after the break as the heroic Cisak prevented the visitors causing further damage producing outstanding saves from Spencer and Carey while a number of other Plymouth opportunities went sailing wide of the goal.
Argyle finally found the target again with six minutes of normal time remaining when Spencer crossed for substitute Donaldson to tuck the ball home from close range.
Source : PA
Source: PA