Gary Mills is a product of the late Brian Clough's football odyssey. Clough brought a youthful Mills into the beautiful game, starting him as a winger at the mere age of 16, in the successful Nottingham Forest side that lifted back-to-back European Cups.

Therefore, you would anticipate that Mills would have learnt his trade from the legend that is Clough, and be able to reproduce at least a certain extent of what Clough preached.

Inept.

Thus far, his short spell in charge at Meadow Lane has produced nothing of what Clough taught.

One of the most important philosophies of Clough, that helped lead his side to all its glories, was his attitude towards continuity. Something that has hardly been evident in Mills’ time at Notts County.

Give Mills a little fairness; he has had his fair share bad luck. What with taking over a disillusioned club, steaming towards the relegation that eventually unfolded in front of Mills’ eyes. Then, there was the injury crisis that continues to threaten the Club in every game they take the field.

However, the very fact that hes been able to spend over the summer, in a bid to spring new life into the faltering County empire, means he must have accounted for these injuries and, therefore, is able to leave that excuse out of the equation.

He can indeed also be excused for last season's relegation to the basement league, as most of the damage had already occurred under Billy Dearden.

This season though is all down to him. And, looking at the sorry statistics, he has a lot to answer for regarding the clubs plight in ‘League 2’.

Captain Marvel

For instance, this is his squad. Of the players he inherited in February of this year, only Ian Richardson, Paul Bolland, Saul Deeney and Steve Mildenhall remain. The latter two being goalkeepers that at the moment don’t figure due to the brilliance of on-loan goalkeeper Wayne Henderson, with Richardson being a player that would fit into most ‘League 2’ side's anyway. I feel the less said about Bolland the better.

Of the players Mills acquired himself in the summer revamp, many have failed to make any kid of positive impression on the County faithful. The only impression made by the likes of Mike Whitlow, Matthew Gill and Gavin Gordon has been negative, as they fail to meet any expectations.

The expectation all round during the summer, was that of an immediate return to ‘League 1’, possibly as Champions, but most definitely via automatic promotion. Now, despite an extremely indifferent start, Notts had showed recent positive signs that a turnaround was to be immediate, lifting a little of the growing pressure on manager and players. Last week's victory over Rochdale was the major factor, and offered renewed expectation as Leyton Orient came to Town here today.

Despite the O’s being in seventh position prior to the start of play, Notts were only six points adrift, and clearly prophesising a playoff charge, starting with their first home victory of the campaign here today.

It’s a thought that Notts fans can only dream of now, as once again the visitors went home the happier, three points in the bank and content with keeping Notts’ unusual Meadow Lane hoodoo intact.

Baudet: Spot on

The 2-1 scoreline is also extremely harsh on the visitors, who have struggled in the basement leagues of English football for an eternity, but now, on todays showing at least, they look more than equipped to end their personal, never ending quest for some glory.

It started terribly for Orient, as Notts took the earliest of leads. It came amidst a little controversy, as Jarnail Singh- today's official- adjudged an Orient defender to have tugged the shirt of Notts full-back Kelvin Wilson. At such an early stage in the proceedings, it seemed a little harsh, not that the Notts faithful complained as Julien Baudet coolly converted to give Notts exactly what they needed, an early advantage.

However, it seemed to put further pressure on Notts, as they slid back into the all to familiar routine of defend first, attack never. It was a move right out of the Sven Goran Eriksson book of management, as Notts tried unsuccessfully to hold a measly advantage, throwing possession away time and again, hoping, preying that Glynn Hurst would do the business up front, alone.

Hurst has been a rejuvenated player in the past few weeks. Scoring five goals in his four games prior to todays encounter, he was positively buzzing. But he cannot do it all himself, he needs help, and he needs service.

Along with strike partner Chris O’ Grady, Hurst was starved of this, as the midfield lacked any creative spark. Captain for the day, Gill, was truly awful, unable to find a black and white shirt and sitting too deep defensively. Bolland the same, meaning that the strikers lacked a forward midfield helping. David Pipe hasn’t produced anything near the form that made him such a threat at the back end of last seasons miserly campaign, and Craig Pead, a central midfielder by trade, started out wide. Baffling by Mills, and it was clear that Pead himself was baffled as to his own responsibilities, as he failed to stamp his authority, eventually leading to his half-time withdrawal in place of Youssef Sofiane.

By that time the seeds were being sowed for Orient's win. They had equalised Baudet's opener in spectacular fashion, carving a neat and tidy move from nothing, passing and moving, playing football as it should be played, before releasing the front player, Luke Steele, to slot home a delightful finish to an exquisite move.

Throughout the opening period Orient did what Notts couldn’t do, keep possession. They are quite simply the best side to have entered the hallowed turf of Meadow Lane so far this season, and look a good bet for promotion themselves. Notts, however, do not.

Another of Cloughie's well known philosophies was thus: "If God had intended football to be played in the air he would have put grass up there!" Mills must disagree, as time and again his players looked direct, aiming high balls towards the diminutive Hurst, resulting in play being immediately given back to Orient.

Credit where credit's due, Orient were the superior side, superbly held together in the midfield by former-Pie Michael Simpson, released after fifty appearances for the Pies almost a decade ago. Many a time he has returned to the Lane, with Wycombe and now Orient, to haunt his former colleagues. Today was no different as he ran the show, adding the finishing touches to many moves and helping towards Orients easy victory.

A defiant Mills declared post-match that Notts would beat Macclesfield in their next ‘League 2’ fixture at Moss Rose next Sunday. He’d do well to take a leaf out of Orients book, infact he’d do well to just take the whole of Orients book, as he tries, almost in vain, to make this club successful once again.

Match Ratings to follow.