Scott Cuthbert believes Leyton Orient can progress against Hull City and Yeovil Town in cup competitions this week, provided they improve upon their heavy New Year’s Day defeat

Defender Scott Cuthbert has warned his Leyton Orient team-mates they risk elimination from the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy if they replicate their New Year’s Day’s league performance at Yeovil against the same opponents in next week’s cup semi-final.

Manager Russell Slade – who spent almost three years in charge at Huish Park – saw his side comprehensively beaten 3-0, with Carlisle loanee Paddy Madden netting either side of James Hayter’s goal.

Championship promotion hopefuls Hull City lie in wait in the FA Cup third round on Saturday, before the cup action continues against Yeovil at Brisbane Road on Tuesday.

And Cuthbert, who came off the bench to complete 26 minutes as he continues his comeback to first-team action following a hamstring problem, believes his side must improve when the Glovers come to east London for the southern area semi-final tie or risk their Wembley dream dying.

“I know if we play like that in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, then we will lose,” said the 31-year-old.

“We’ll have to perform a lot better next Tuesday against them – it’s a big game.

“We need to concentrate on Saturday against Hull, but, come next Tuesday, we could be through in two cups, so the positive we can take is that we need to win our next two games.

“Not a lot of people expect us to get a result at Hull – but we expect to go and match them.

“On our day we feel we are good enough to match anyone and it will be a good experience.”

Striker Kevin Lisbie sat out the defeat to Yeovil with a shoulder injury and the O’s lacked a cutting edge in attack with Ryan Brunt and David Mooney paired together.

But Slade believes top-scorer Lisbie should be back in contention for Saturday’s trip to the KC Stadium, as will left-back Gary Sawyer.

Meanwhile, the manager confirmed his decision to bring on Cuthbert for veteran midfielder Martin Rowlands on 64 minutes was merely a precaution.

“He’s [Lisbie] had an injection in his shoulder,” revealed Slade. “We need that to settle down and hopefully it will do for the weekend. You miss Kev when he’s not in the side.

“Martin has had quite a bit of football recently and we didn’t want any problems on a sapping pitch, but he should be fine for Saturday.

“There is a chance Gary could play.”