What a relief. I had almost forgotten all about that irrational satisfaction that makes these expensive away days seem worthwhile.  

When your team is frequently losing away from home it tends to open Pandora’s box. Every traffic jam, every tank of petrol and every lump of bird’s turd on the windscreen is the team’s fault. 

But when you’ve won, especially after the wait we have had, the world is a pleasant place.  I even managed to muster a wry smile as I turned off my engine and sat back for an hour of total gridlock on the M25. 

Of course, we weren’t really that good today, and it is quite humbling to be doing cartwheels over scraping a 1-0 at the Orient. But I have a real hunch that today’s victory could be absolutely priceless in our fight to escape League One. 

The away day hoodoo had to end at some point. Today we smashed it and, thanks to primitive technologies in the extreme north of the country, our last two away games have drawn reasonably positive results. 

Without even playing particularly well we are, all of the sudden, on the cusp of something that looks dangerously like momentum. 

Calderwood had his men celebrating today’s victory like we had won the FA Cup. I was slightly embarrassed, that’s a given, but I lapped up every second of it. We all did. 

The relief on the player’s faces, and the adulation shared with our superb travelling support, demonstrated just how important today’s result could prove to be. 

We know all about Calderwood’s decision-making lunacy, there is no point going over old ground. For one night I would quite like to bask in the rare glory of a successful away day and the blind faith that goes with it. 

The performance? It was average. Orient swooned at the City Ground a few weeks ago and were emphatically dispatched by a reasonably straightforward Forest display. 

And today they showed us far too much respect again. We created very little to begin with and for long periods we were again waiting for a moment of individual magic.

But the winner of the game was never really in doubt. I always felt that if we could take the lead the points would be ours. 

Eventually we came out of our shell and, probably for the first time ever, we played 5-3-2 as it should be played.

Chambers and Bennett further and further forward until eventually we had something that looked suspiciously like width (honestly!) 

Without ever really stretching ourselves we asked all of the questions today and it made a pleasant change.

It took a gaff from a very poor goalkeeper to seal the points, but a win is a win. 

Ratings: 

Smith – 6.5 – barely involved at all.  

Morgan – 7.5 – switched off for the usual short period of madness, but he was generally excellent. Brought the ball out well and won almost everything. 

Wilson – 7 – let himself slip into danger a couple of times but recovered with superb conviction both times. I’m very relieved that he played on after the injury. 

Breckin – 7 – actually a very good display from the old mule.   

Chambers – 7 – job done. 

Bennett – 7.5 – a good display from Bennett. His flaws are obvious and innumerable, but his recent form is very difficult to criticise.  

Clingan – 7 – created a fair bit of space when we finally got into our stride. 

Commons – 7 – came into his own in the second half. His performance was summed up by the fact that he was red-faced and dripping with sweat when substituted – at half time he waddled off as dry as a bone. 

Cohen – 7 – put the work in and was rewarded.  Holt – 7 – far better than usual, I thought. One or two good knocks caused problems and he made his presence felt. 

Agogo – 7 – doesn’t like the cold weather, does he? A little bit lazy at times, he held the ball up well and scored a vital goal.  

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