O’s chief looking to get off the mark at Brentford

Don’t panic - that’s the message from Orient boss Russell Slade following his side’s dismal start to the season.

The O’s are the only team in League One without a point and a season that began with so much optimism has turned into a nightmare opening.

Orient head to Brentford on Saturday, desperate to avoid a fourth successive league defeat, but the O’s chief insisted: “There is no panic, we just have to keep believing.

“I’m sure with the squad we have got we will get stronger, we will get fitter and we will improve.”

After a poor start last season O’s opened their points account against the odds at Southampton and Slade is hoping for a similar scenario on Saturday.

“Brentford have made a good start,” said the O’s boss. “It’s going to be tough, it’s a local derby and probably that’s just the recipe for us.

“Brentford are right up there and have made the sort of start that we were looking for, but hopefully we can dampen their start by getting three points.”

The Orient manager will be looking for an improvement throughout his side.

Although the team scored their first league goal of the season against Wycombe, they also leaked three.

“We have had a look at the goals we conceded on the DVD and we recognise that they are not good goals,” admitted the O’s boss.

“Play the football yes, that’s great and let’s go forward and let’s create more opportunities and let’s score more goals. But at the same time we have got to be resilient as a side.

“I’m not talking about the two centre-halves. I thought that they were immaculate again against Wycombe.

“They are really blameless in all the goals we have conceded this season, but as a team we have got to defend better.”

But it’s not only defending where O’s need to improve. “Our midfield is not firing on all cylinders,” added Slade.

“Last year we had a lovely balance in there, but at this moment in time it’s not quite clicking.

“And for one reason or another we are not quite getting the goals that I thought the four strikers would get, but I know that will come.

“But we are just going to have to be a little bit patient right now.”