Ling pays tribute to Orient class

No-one can put the win down as a smash-and-grab Leyton Orient boss Martin Ling Fulham 1-2 Leyton Orient Sunday's FA Cup photos

Leyton Orient manager Martin Ling said his side thoroughly deserved their 2-1 FA Cup third round win over Fulham.

"This is probably the best day in my nine-and-a-half years here. We edged them on the pitch and in the supporters' department," he said.

"We needed a bit of luck to pull off the upset and we got that with the deflections and the penalty. We passed the ball against a Premiership side.

"No-one can put the win down as a smash-and-grab."

Ling also revealed that his players had a special celebration lined up after the match, courtesy of chairman Barry Hearn.

"We're having our Christmas do after this match," added Ling.

"The chairman is picking up the tab. They deserve it and we'll let them enjoy themselves. They will have lots of girls chasing after them now!

"They will have a few drinks and rightly so. They're going for a meal but will be eating pasta."

I showed Orient respect but the players didn't Fulham boss Chris Coleman

Ling's Fulham counterpart Chris Coleman laid the blame for the defeat fairly and squarely on the shoulders of his players.

"The defeat was down to a sense of arrogance, a lack of effort and enthusiasm," said a furious Coleman.

"God knows where the arrogance came from because we can't afford to approach any game like that.

"We did our homework on Orient and didn't change anything in terms of preparation because we knew what a tough game it would be.

"I'm gutted, absolutely gutted. I didn't show Orient any disrespect because they are a good team, who have a good manager and play good football. I showed them respect but the players didn't."