‘Don’t get too excited’ says Slade

Orient boss Russell Slade is playing down his side’s chances of gate-crashing the play-offs.

The O’s have taken 29 points from their last 15 games, which has lifted them from the bottom of League One to within seven points of the top six.

But after Monday’s win at Stevenage, Slade said: “Don’t get too excited, we have won a football match which is fantastic – but it’s about building bricks and making progress.

“We’re on an upward curve and I like to think my teams do improve as the season goes on.

“I don’t know where it will take us, but we will just keep going and hopefully it will take us and land us where we want to be.”

Slade was delighted with his side, as despite having Ben Chorley sent-off on the stroke of half time, the O’s comfortably held on to their lone goal advantage.

“The attitude of the players and the focus was awesome,” said Slade.

Orient showed real character as they ended Stevenage’s 13-match unbeaten run and the O’s boss added: “We had to show a different side to our game at Stevenage which is not an easy place to come and get a result.

“We mixed it up well with our short passing game in the first half and also when we needed to get it forward we did. We thoroughly deserved to be in front at half time.

“It’s difficult to pick a man out because they were all fantastic. But I have to say every time there was danger in there Scott Cuthbert was absolutely awesome.

“I just thought it was a fantastic performance from a centre-half at this level. It’s as good as you will ever-ever get.

“There were others as well that put in a fantastic shift and everyone worked really hard for the cause.

“Look at David Mooney, how much work did he get through? He has had his critics, but he worked so hard.”