Aaron Connolly inspires Leyton Orient to emphatic win at Burton

Leyton Orient returned to winning ways with a resounding 4-0 win at Burton.

Aaron Connolly and Dom Ballard struck in the first half to put the O’s in control before Azeem Abdulai and Charlie Wellens scored after the break to seal a first ever win over the Brewers.

Connolly proved a constant thorn in the hosts’ side as Orient leapfrogged their opponents in the League One table.

The Irish forward broke the deadlock in the 12th minute, cutting in from the left and, from an almost impossible angle, squeezing the ball past Brad Collins at his near post.

Capitalising on their dominance, Orient extended their lead after 26 minutes, Connolly this time turning provider with a deft cross into the area for strike partner Ballard to glance a header into the far corner.

Albion had shouts for a penalty when Jake Beesley appeared to be bundled over, but referee Paul Howard was unmoved.

Abdulai’s thumping 25-yard effort midway through the second half effectively put paid to any chance of an Albion comeback as the midfielder smashed in his first league goal of the campaign before Charlie Wellens capped a superb afternoon for the east Londoners with a fourth from the edge of the box.