LEYTON ORIENT striker Jabo Ibehre's dreams of a big draw in the FA Cup may not have materialised, but he hopes the vision of grabbing another wonder goal in the next round will come true instead.o

The 19-year-old's equaliser against Lincoln on Saturday sparked an O's comeback that eventually saw Steve Watts head home a winner that set up a tough away fixture at First Division Portsmouth in the third round.o

And while the confident youngster has described his 20-yard strike as "probably the best goal" he has scored in his short career, he clearly hopes to repeat, or even better, that feat at Fratton Park on January 5.

He said: "It would be brilliant and a dream come true to get another goal like that in a game of this size."

But the teenager is taking nothing for granted and is well aware that Orient have not got the easiest of games on their hands.

He continued: "While I suppose you always hope to get a big Premiership side in the third round this is still a good draw and it will be a tough tie, especially as it is away from home."

However, Ibehre is not scared of facing a higher League club, adding: "When we played Crystal Palace at the start of the season in the Worthington Cup we gave them a run for their money in the first 70 minutes.

"So I think we have got a chance and we certainly won't fear going there. In any case you can never predict a result in the FA Cup, because while we will go into the game as underdogs we can still come out on top, as we have done in the past.

"I am really looking forward to the match and hopefully we can win."

If Orient are to achieve some success down on the south coast it will be the growing team spirit at the club that will get them through, which according to Ibehre is best illustrated by the famous huddle before games.

He said: "In the huddle we just group together and feel our emotions, we haven't lost since we've done it so let's hope that can continue."

And while the youngster obviously wishes that O's unbeaten run will lead to a game against the big boys in the fourth round, he is still more interested in getting promotion to Division Two.

He stated: "We were unlucky last season in the play-off final, but it's important that we get there again this year.

"We've been up and down since the start of the season but things are coming together slowly now.

"If we keep playing well and the passing gets better then we'll be contenders at the end of the season and while a cup run is nice the play-offs and promotion are the main objectives."

December 13, 2001 13:53