Gus Poyet could not care less about the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

If Albion’s straight-talking manager had his way, the final ‘T’ would be removed from the name of the sponsors.

His players presumably regard the competition as a pain as well, considering the circumstances of their instant exit last night.

Poyet named the strongest side available to him, bearing in mind the ineligibility of his three new signings and the completion of a three-match suspension for his captain Gordon Greer.

Orient, by contrast, rested four players, but still managed to inflict a defeat which was a tad embarrassing.

Poyet made just a couple of midfield changes to the team which saw off Walsall at Withdean last Saturday.

Matt Sparrow made his first home appearance after a three-match ban and Liam Bridcutt his debut on a five-month contract following his release by Chelsea.

The Seagulls were fined for fielding a makeshift team in the competition last season against Orient when Russell Slade was in charge.

Slade made fewer changes now that he is in charge of the East Londoners.

Former Albion winger Dean Cox was among seven players retained from the side which beat Exeter comfortably at home last Saturday. Another ex-Seagull, Alex Revell, was on the bench.

It was a shame for Slade that his return to Withdean for the first time since being sacked last November was in such low-key circumstances for a competition much maligned by Poyet in the build-up to the match.

Slade nevertheless was given a rapturous welcome by the modest-sized crowd. Poyet joined in and also bowed in admiration for his predecessor’s efforts for the club.

Writing in his programme notes Poyet remarked: “If it wasn’t for Russell, the club could be in a very different position right now.”

Poyet could not have bargained for the winger he released at the end of last season coming back to haunt him in quite the manner Cox did in the first half.

Cox, operating on the left, opened the scoring with his second goal in as many games in the 21st minute, although it had an element of fortune about it.

He cut inside Bridcutt for a right-foot shot from just outside the area which took a deflection and looped over Casper Ankergren.

Cox, a product of Albion’s youth system, did not celebrate. In fact, he stretched out an apologetic hand to supporters in the North Stand.

Poyet’s early season angst about referees would not have been helped by a stupid decision by Iain Williamson a minute before Cox struck.

Sparrow would have been clean through if the Berkshire official had not blown up for a foul by Aaron Brown on Elliott Bennett in the build-up.

Brown was booked but Williamson could just as easily have dished out that punishment after playing the advantage.

Within three minutes of breaking the deadlock, Cox very nearly struck again. Tommy Elphick’s indecisive header from a cross fell to him and an instant right-foot volley left Ankergren helpless, only for Albion to be saved by the crossbar.

The Seagulls had opportunities to redress the balance before the break.

Bennett missed the target with an attempted curler, Glenn Murray likewise with a volley, and Ashley Barnes had a low drive inside the box saved by Jamie Jones.

The latter two chances were fashioned by Marcos Painter, galloping forward from his defensive duties after the first goal of his career against Walsall.

Barnes, who opened his account for the campaign in that match, should have put Albion back on terms just before the break. Bennett threaded a pass through Orient’s offside trap but Jones diverted Barnes’ shot for a corner via an outstretched boot.

The visitors were grateful to their keeper again on the stroke of half-time, Jones finger-tipping over a trademark effort from distance by Bennett.

Albion paid for those missed opportunities when they fell further behind in soft fashion two minutes into the restart, Ryan Jarvis escaping goal side of Barnes to head in a Matthew Spring free-kick.

Barnes’ prolonged protests that he had been impeded ended with a yellow card.

A route back into the game was gifted by Orient three minutes later, Brown nudging Murray from behind inside the box. It was an obvious penalty and Brown was fortunate not to collect a second caution.

He had a further let-off, as Murray’s spot-kick was saved by Jones, diving to his left. That was the last we saw of Murray, Poyet demonstrating his ruthless streak with a double substitution. Adam El-Abd also gave way, the introduction of Argentinian striker Cristian Baz and midfielder Jamie Smith prompting an unfamiliar move into the centre of defence for skipper Inigo Calderon.

Barnes was also withdrawn, Gary Hart forming a new strike force with Baz, as Albion tried to find a way back into the game.

They huffed and puffed to limited effect, the previously busy Jones forced only into routine function from a free-kick by Baz.

At the other end of the pitch there were moments of uncertainty in defensive situations.

Jones had to push over an angled drive from Elphick in the dying moments, but by that stage, most of the fans had drifted home to contemplate a tame exit.

ALBION (4-3-3): Ankergren; Calderon, Elphick, El-Abd (Smith 52), Painter; Sparrow, Bridcutt, Dicker; Bennett, Murray (Baz 52), Barnes (Hart 67). Subs: Battipiedi, Walker.

Scorers: None.

Yellow Cards: Barnes (47) dissent; Bennett (80) foul.

Red Cards: None.

Leyton Orient (4-4-2): Jones; Onosuzi, Brown, Forbes, Smith; Cox (Cestor 57), Dawson, Chambers (Chorley 84), Spring; Jarvis, Tehoue (Revell 34). Subs: McGleish, Butcher.

Scorers: Cox (21); Jarvis (47).

Yellow Cards: Onosuzi (11) foul; Brown (20) foul; Spring (26) time wasting; Smith (67) kicking the ball Away.

Red Cards: None.

Referee: Iain Williamson (Berkshire) Venue: Withdean Stadium.

Next match: Albion v MK Dons, League One, Saturday September 11 (3pm) Entertainment Value out of Five: 2