As the Harriers travelled down to Leyton on the coach Abdou Sall broke the bad news that his ankle was troubling him and he wouldn't be able to take part in today's game.
It was obvious to the Harriers supremo, Ian Britton, that he would have to think quickly. With a team already missing Craig Hinton with a broken nose and, after Saturday, injuries to Dean Bennett and Bo Henriksen.
He decided to go with a similar set-up as against Bournemouth two weeks ago. Pack the midfield and stifle the Orient attack as much as possible. We were going to employ a 3-5-2 formation with Stamps, Ayres and Smith as centre backs and Doyle and Joy as wing-backs.
Broughton and Foster would be the striking pair.
The game panned out as expected. It was a dire affair with neither side hardly able to get a shot in during the first half. It took Orient twenty minutes with an effort from Nugent but he could only direct his header straight at Stuart Brock.
Harriers transfer target from last season, Carl Hutchings, was next but his long range shot was well wide.
Five minutes before the half ended there was concern from the bench when
Scott Stamps had to leave the pitch holding a towel to his head after an aerial collision with Nugent. The last thing we needed would be another injured defender. Danny Williams went back into defence for the rest of the half.
On 42 minutes Parrish was booked for dissent at a free kick awarded to Orient. The ball was moved forward ten yards but Matt Lockwoods free kick was saved well by Brockie.