Orient skipper is desperate for the festive fixtures to beat the freeze

ORIENT skipper Stephen Dawson is desperate for his side’s festive fixtures to beat the freeze.

The O’s entertain the MK Dons on Boxing Day and then make the long haul to Hartlepool next Tuesday. They then travel to league leaders Brighton on New Year’s Day before hosting an Essex derby with Colchester on Monday January 3.

After kicking his heels last weekend when Orient’s home game against Plymouth Argyle was frozen off, the O’s skipper is keen to get back into action.

“We need to be playing games over the Christmas period,” said Dawson.

“The matches are coming thick and fast and if we were to lose most of the holiday games because of the weather, we could find ourselves with five or six games to fit in and that wouldn’t be easy, as we have not got the biggest of squads.

“It can be tough playing every Tuesday and Saturday.”

With home games against Carlisle United and Plymouth Argyle to re-arrange, the O’s have played three more matches on their travels than they have done at home.

And Dawson knows that if his side can make the most of those encounters, then it could put them in a strong position.

“The division is so tight and results are so unpredictable. Who would have thought Exeter would beat Sheffield Wednesday 5-1 last weekend?” said Dawson.

Despite their recent good run, Orient are just two points off the relegation places, but only two wins off a top-six place.

“We need to do well in our games over Christmas,” said the combative midfielder.

“If we could go into the new year in the top half of the table and with a stack of home games to come, we would have a great chance to keep climbing the table.

“We will have a bit of an edge, because we will be playing at home week in and week out during the new year.”