Dawson: “We need to take a good long look at ourselves”

Orient skipper Stephen Dawson has apologised to the fans following Saturday’s 5-0 thrashing at Brentford – but has promised that the players will turn things around.

The O’s entertain Carlisle United on Saturday and the O’s captain is desperate for his side to open their points account and climb away from the foot of the table.

“We really do need to get some points on the board at the weekend and I think that once we do, things will change,” said Dawson.

The battling midfielder knows Orient are a long way from their best, but said: “We have got to remain positive, there are four games gone and we know it’s a very bad start, we are not going to kid ourselves and make excuses.

“We didn’t start off this badly last season, but we had a poor opening, so we have got to believe we can turn things around.

“I don’t believe we have become a bad team overnight, because it’s the same team and the players the manager has brought in are just as good as the players that left.

“There are 42 games to go and we have got to pick each other up.

“I still believe we are a good team, although some people might disagree as we are bottom of the league by a country mile.

“We have just got to get that belief, because at the minute we are just not doing it.”

Dawson admits that it’s the first crisis he has faced since joining the club as Orient have scored just once in their first four league games and conceded 10, but the skipper insists that unity is the key.

“We have got to stick together now and see what we are made of,” he said.

“We have not been through this before since I have been at the club and since the gaffer has been at the club. It’s the first rut we have been in and it’s the most games we have lost on the trot, but we have got to keep going.”

After Saturday’s defeat at Brentford Dawson admitted: “To lose 5-0 is what hurts the most, it’s embarrassing and I can only apologise. I feel for the supporters. I feel for the gaffer,” he said.

“To lose by that margin, it’s soul destroying. I’m devastated to be honest, it’s not good enough and, as players, we need to have a real good look at ourselves, because that is not acceptable.

“The Brentford game is over now. We can’t moan about it. We have got to pick ourselves up and go to training and try and put it right for Saturday.

“The players are hurting. It’s not good enough, we accept that, but we have got to help each other through it, as only we can turn it around.”