Newport County beaten 4-1 by Leyton Orient in Carabao Cup

The Exiles headed to London with a seven-game winning streak in the first round of the tournament that stretched back to 2016.

Six of those successes had been teams in higher leagues but this time an upset against their League One hosts was unlikely after a shocking start.

Orient were in front inside a minute thanks to Daniel Agyei exploiting generous defending then, after very little in between, went 2-0 up in the seventh minute of added time when Diallang Jaiyesimi nodded in.

Both goals were scored way too easily and the same applied to what looked like the killer blow just five minutes after the restart, former County loanee Brandon Cooper heading in unmarked in the middle of the box from a cross.

James Clarke made it 3-1 on the hour with a header shortly after being brought on but, just as the visitors were giving the O’s some nervy moments, Charlie Kelman slotted in the 74th minute after hesitant goalkeeping from debutant Jacob Carney.

There was encouragement from the cruel last-gasp 3-2 loss at Cheltenham on opening weekend but little to cheer in London when opportunity knocked.

CHASE: Kiban Rai on the run for County at Orient (Image: Juan Gasparini/Huw Evans Agency)

There won’t be too many tears about the early exit from a competition that lacks financial incentives but there will be frustration at the level of performance, with the Exiles only really looking lively in attack when changes were made.

Teething problems are to be expected for a new-look and inexperienced squad attempting to play in a new style but an improvement will be needed against much-fancied Doncaster in Newport on Saturday.

Head coach Nelson Jardim, with one eye that Rodney Parade fixture and also keen to assess at his new-look squad, made six changes to the XI that took to the field in Cheltenham.

Carney got a chance in goal, defender Matt Baker came into the back four and midfielder Kai Whitmore got a start after coming off the bench at Whaddon Road.

Kiban Rai and Nathan Wood were on the flanks playing off striker Luke Jephcott in a 4-5-1.

Of those on duty in Cheltenham, goal scorer Oliver Greaves was absent along with striker Hamzad Kargbo, who faces a lengthy lay-off after suffering a dislocated shoulder in his brief cameo.

Orient also tinkered with the starting line-up from their opening weekend defeat to Bolton in League One.

Cooper, who was massively influential in the Exiles’ superb start to 2021/22 when on loan from Swansea, came into defence and captained a side that also featured Taff’s Well’s Tom James.

The Exiles caused an upset last time they had travelled to Brisbane Road under James Rowberry in 2022 but only three players – captain Aaron Wildig in the XI and Nick Townsend and James Clarke on the bench – survived from that 2-1 triumph in which Will Evans and Omar Bogle scored.

County made a nightmare start and were behind after just 42 seconds with a goal that was far, far too easy.

The ball was played to Agyei on the edge of the box and he was given too much time and space by Kyle Jameson, who failed to get a block in and allowed the striker to shoot and score with the help of the right post.

OPENER: Daniel Agyei celebrates putting Orient 1-0 up in the first minute (Image: Juan Gasparini/Huw Evans Agency)

Wood shanked a shot well wide after being teed up by Jephcott on the edge of the area as the Exiles looked to respond but neither ‘keeper had been forced into a save with 20 low-key minutes gone.

In fact, the next incident of note came in the 23rd minute when linesman Stephen Finch appeared to have a back spasm.

Six frustrating minutes later – after a shout of ‘get on with it’ and a slow-hand clap – fourth official Sam Mulhall took over on the line and play resumed.

That was soon followed by a half-chance for the visitors after good work by Kiban Rai down the left but Wood seemed to get in the way of Shane McLoughlin as he was lining up a volley and the right-back, who showed last season that he is capable of stunners, kicked air.

Orient responded on the half hour but Agyei failed to hit the target after getting in down the right.

There was another stoppage in a rather dour half when Jameson seemed to jar his leg when making a clearance but he was good to continue.

It was a very forgettable half but the O’s finished it as they started it, scoring with their second shot on target in the sixth minute of added time.

Defending was once against soft with a lack of pressure on the lay-off and the cross from the right by Sean Clare, with Jaiyesimi winning his duel with McLoughlin to head the hosts into a commanding position.

Orient started the second half on the front foot as they looked to complete the job and they did just that after five minute after a corner was put back into the box for Cooper to nod in.

LONG: Kyle Jameson puts the ball forward for County at Orient (Image: Juan Gasparini/Huw Evans Agency)

It was nearly 4-0 after 57 minutes when Ollie O’Neill wriggled away from Jameson in the box but was denied by Carney’s body.

That was followed by Clarke coming on at the heart of the defence and he promptly made an impact in the other box.

Anthony Glennon whipped in a free-kick, the centre-back headed County’s first effort on target and home ‘keeper Zach Hemming allowed it to slip through his fingers.

The Exiles finished with a stronger XI and lively winger Bobby Kamwa forced the O’s into scrambling defence after good work down the left, then had a shot well blocked after good approach play.

However, just as they were looking to make a game of it an Orient counter ended with Kelman slotting after hesitant keeping from Carney, who failed to slide and gather when it was his to win.

That took the wind out of the Exiles’ sails with their last chance a shanked volley by Kamwa in added time when he should have hit the target at the far post.

Orient scorers: Agyei, Jaiyesimi, Cooper, Kelman.

County: Carney, McLoughlin, Baker, Jameson (Clarke 58), Glennon, Brennan (Antwi 69), Whitmore, Wildig (captain), Rai (Baker-Richardson 69), Jephcott (Evans 88), Wood (Kamwa 58).

Substitutes not used: Townsend, Thomas, Sanca, Seberry.

Goal: Clarke.

Yellow: Jameson.

Referee: Craig Hicks.

Attendance: 2,141 (195 County).