Orient boss Slade pays tribute to the fans

You have to take your hat off to them says the manager

Orient boss Russell Slade admitted that he is hugely disappointed to go into the final game of the season against Plymouth on Saturday without a chance of making the play-offs.

The O’s saw their hopes of gate crashing the top six disappear when they were beaten 3-0 at home by Tranmere Rovers last weekend.

“I’m sorry we have not taken it to the last game of the season, that was my dream,” said Slade.

“That’s what I wanted us to do. It was there for us to do it, but sometimes you can’t predict football. It’s a fine line as I said to the boys at the end of the game.”

Orient made a shocking start against Tranmere and conceded a goal in the first few minutes and another just before the break, but even at half time Slade thought his side might get back into the game.

“We still believed at 2-0 we could do it. We made a few changes and I thought it could happen - but it didn’t. We conceded one quickly in the second half and that put pay to it.

“We kept trying to play and probe, but fair play to Tranmere, they defended well, very deep. They pulled everyone back behind the ball at times and made life very difficult for us.

“I don’t think it was the pressure, it’s all about goals. They got the first goal and on the back of their 4-0 win last week it gave them something to hang on to.

“Then just before half time they got another and went in at half-time 2-0 up. It was a real confidence boost for them.”

Despite the defeat the team were given great support by the fans and Slade added: “The fans have been magnificent and you have to take your hat off to them, which I did quite literally. They were terrific.”