LEYTON ORIENT 2 CITY 0

THE enthusiastic female duo belting out Cher made for an incongruous backdrop to Derek Adams’ post-match inquest.

Such is the unique set-up at Leyton Orient where all four corners are hemmed in by blocks of luxury flats.

The occupants of the bottom balcony had clearly enjoyed their afternoon as they loudly sang about how much they believed in life after love.

Adams, meanwhile, must have wished that he could “turn back time” after a wretched afternoon that punctured the feelgood factor that has been building during the opening month.

The Scot had mentioned before the game that he liked the traditional feel of Orient’s manor in the East end.

But for those 752 travelling fans, this was an unwanted throwback to travelling no-shows from previous years.

City were as off-key as those warbling women in a game completely at odds with the energetic, chance-laden efforts of the last few weeks.

And they got the sort of slap in the face that Eastenders usually reserve for unruly punters in the Queen Vic.

But just as with the massive Twitter overreaction to Harry Smith’s exuberant if foolish celebrations to Orient’s opener, there should be no need to get carried away over the season’s first setback.

As flat and plodding as City may have been, August will still finish in a healthy position with a two-point average from the first chunk of five games.

Given that three were on the road – including two of the longer trips on the fixture schedule – most would have probably accepted a 10-point return at this stage with open arms before a ball was kicked.

Not that Adams will simply forget this exceptionally bad day at the office.

He predictably bridled at the accusation that the hosts simply wanted it more but admitted the evidence hardly suggested otherwise.

“I wouldn’t say that was the case,” he said. “But if you’re an outsider or simply standing on the touchline, it looked that way.”

It was even more bizarre given that City had just come off their first free week since pre-season. Orient, on the other hand, had played and lost on Tuesday against Harrogate.

The sting of that defeat provided an extra impetus for Kenny Jackett’s men but does not explain the lack of resistance from those in “hyper blue”.

They just seemed slower to the ball generally and then unable to keep it. Potential attacks broke down regularly from a sloppy pass or careless control rather than anything stunning on the home side’s part.

Not to say that Orient did not fully deserve their victory, which once again underlined the importance of hard work at this level.

Put a proper shift in and most days you’ll reap the rewards – especially against such untypically toothless opposition.

Adams had kept the line-up that had demonstrated such qualities and character at Field Mill, even down to the same subs. But this was chalk and cheese.

Adams had never beaten Jackett in their days with Plymouth and Portsmouth and the experienced O’s boss maintained that hold over his rival.

The longer grass slowed down the tempo as Jackett’s team adapted better with a more direct approach.

The late withdrawal in the warm-up of Dan Happe, scorer of the winner against City here in November, forced Orient into a reshuffle at the back.

But you wouldn't have known. Shad Ogie, pressed into emergency action at centre half, slotted in alongside Omar Beckles to keep a tight lid on Andy Cook.

City’s top scorer hardly got a sniff and there were equally slim pickings for those with the jobs of creating the openings.

Charles Vernam managed one shot of note that forced Lawrence Vigouroux into his only save in the Orient goal.

Alex Gilliead turned former Bantam Connor Wood inside out with one jinking run and cross but was otherwise anonymous.

Callum Cooke fared a little better but, more often than not, found himself squeezed out as the hosts won the midfield battle.

Arguably, the only attacking threat came from captain Niall Canavan with two headers – one hoiked away from in front of the line and the other that flashed past the post.

That was about the sum of their success going forward.

Orient had been little more productive in an awful first half that was devoid of any quality.

The sides reached the break in a dour deadlock with the game there to be won by anyone showing a hint of nous and attacking inspiration.

The City section of the crowd still harboured hope of finishing the afternoon top of the League Two pile as leaders Forest Green tripped up against Jamie Proctor-inspired Port Vale.

But the early exchanges of the second half quickly put any such dream to bed.

Orient came out fighting, City drifting. There would only be one winner.

Theo Archibald, the winger on loan from Lincoln, came more and more into the action and threatened with a drive that Richard O’Donnell beat away.

The City keeper got a huge break when Smith met Wood’s cross with a strong header that crashed against the underside of the bar and bounced down on the line and out.

But the luck ran out from a superb hit by Cyprus under-21 international Ruel Sitiriou.

It came from a throw-in from Tom James just inside City’s half that nobody dealt with.

The ball was allowed to bounce as Sitiriou shuffled his way goal-side of Canavan. The little striker then let it bounce again to sit up nicely for a half-volley from an angle so tight to the byline that it was almost level with the goal.

It wasn’t quite peak Marco van Basten in Euro 88 but still a remarkable finish to launch a shot from there inside the far corner, although fingers will be pointed at O’Donnell letting it over his shoulder at the near post.

Orient milked their celebrations close to the City fans. Wood clearly relished putting one over those giving him stick and Smith took it one stage further by toying with a lighter that had been thrown on.

It was a daft thing to do but just as stupid as tossing it on to the pitch in the first place.

City will watch their email inbox closely for anything from the FA over the unpleasant scuffles that followed as fans spilled forward.

Adams switched formation to three at the back and two up top to try to gee things up.

But Orient merely exploited the extra space while City’s attacking output remained frustratingly minimal.

And a second goal finished it as Archibald avoided Cooke’s lunge enough to feed Smith, who beat O’Donnell far too easily with a shot from distance.