Orient boss Russell Slade shows his frustrations after Crawley take the lead Pic: Simon O'Connor

O’s still searching for an elusive win

Orient boss Russell Slade will spent this week trying to instil some belief into his side as they head to Swindon on Saturday still searching for their first points of the season.

The O’s have scored just one league goal this season - and that came from the penalty spot at Tranmere on the opening day - and the O’s chief admitted: “I think we need a little bit more belief in and around the box and a little bit more quality to try and get ourselves a goal.”

Orient returned home pointless from Crawley last weekend following a 1-0 defeat after dominating the first half and Slade insisted his side should have taken something from the game.

“To be honest I felt that we were in there for at least a point and that would have been commendable on the back of a tough game on Wednesday night,” he said.

“In terms of preparation we have had a day less, but that’s not an excuse.”

The O’s boss believes that there is a thin dividing line between success and failure in League One: “There is nothing in the games is there?” he said.

“Our last two league games have both ended up 1-0 and we reduced Crawley to one or two chances, but that’s the difference, we didn’t create enough ourselves.

“It’s all about goals and a goal would have been a fantastic lift.

“That’s this league, we are the away team and although Crawley had some possession in the second half it wasn’t as if they were battering the door down.

“I thought we were well and truly in the game and arguably could have got a goal in the first period.

“We looked a little bit tired and leggy towards the end of the game, but that was understandable.”

And Slade was convinced his side should have had an early penalty when Martin Rowlands, who was making his league debut for the O’s, was tripped in the box.

“I think it’s a penalty, the referee’s missed it. He decides to give a yellow card and award a free-kick, but I didn’t see that,” said Slade.

“I’ve looked at the DVD and their player has caught him and that’s a penalty.”