Notts County recorded their second defeat of the Christmas period this afternoon with a 1-0 loss at Leyton Orient.

The only goal of the game came on the stroke of half-time when a Shane Tudor cross from the right was nodded home by Jabo Ibehre, leaving Kevin Pilkington with no chance with the header buried in the bottom corner of his goal.

Dan Martin and Liam Needham saw chances saved while Pilkington performed heroics in the second half with a number of saves, but in the end there was no luck for Gudjon and the boys.

Martin, Palmer, Pipe and White all came into the team from that which started at Oxford with Friars, Wilson, Sheridan and McMahon dropping out of the side.

The Magpies looked bright early on with a number of smart and sharp passing moves, with David Pipe looking a big threat in the middle of the park, and was on hand to send Andy White clear early on by Garner shot off his line to quickly gather from the giant centre-forward while Pipe himself closed down a clearance which he just failed to get on the end of.

Orient also looked strong on a bobbly pitch with Pilkington rarely tested in terms of shot-stopping although the defence did find themselves under pressure at times, but the back three of Martin, Baudet and O'Callaghan held firm with Martin making a timely clearance from Alexander midway through the half.

Mike Edwards saw a header flash over towards the end of the half while Mackie poked over from close range for the home side after a flurry of chances with flew off target including Keith, Ibehre and Tudor, although they did eventually break the deadlock with Ibehre clinically finishing as the board went up for the addition minute added on rose.

The second half saw the Magpies break quickly from an Orient corner with Needham played through with a smart pass, but Needham's low effort was saved by the legs of Garner.

Pilkington then had to pick a powerful Keith header out of the air midway through the half and also made a superb reaction stop from close range from Alexander towards the end of the game.

Dan Martin had a golden chance to net on a rare start towards the end by again Garner saved well, by this time Jake Sheridan and Lewis McMahon had been throw into the action as the side went all out for the leveller.

Despite the best efforts and a few near scares with Orient breaking forward using their pace well, a goal was not falling in our favour and we fell to our second straight loss. A chance to put this right comes on Monday when Barnet visit Meadow Lane.

The performance was certainly an improvement on that at Oxford, and Martin, Palmer, Needham and Pipe but in good performances, certainly handing Gudjon Thordarson some positives to take out of the game.

Leyton Orient: Garner, Lockwood, Mackie, Zakuani, Miller, Keith, Simpson, Easton, Tudor, Alexander, Ibehre.
On The Bench: Barnard, Carlisle, Abbey, McMahon, Duncan.
Booked: Easton
Sent Off: None

Notts County: Pilkington, Ullathorne (McMahon 56), O'Callaghan, Baudet, Martin, Palmer, Pipe, Edwards, Needham, White, DeBolla (Sheridan 56).
On The Bench: Friars, Long, Marshall.
Booked: None
Sent Off: None

Referee: Mr G Hegley

Attendance: 3,175 (281 Notts)

nottscountyfc.co.uk Man of the Match: Chris Palmer