Orient manager Russell Slade put one over his former club Pic: Simon O'Connor

Orient boss wants to see more fighting spirit

By Trevor Davies, Leyton Orient correspondent Tuesday, September 18, 2012
4:42 PM

Slade hopes to dig out a result against his former club

Orient manager Russell Slade comes up against his former club Yeovil tonight and wants his side to show the same fighting spirit that earned them a 1-0 win over Brentford last Thursday.

“We are going to need to show that same spirit and that same attitude we did against Brentford and see if we can dig out another result,” said the Orient boss.

Slade is likely to name an unchanged side and expects strikers Ryan Brunt and Michael Symes to be fit.

“We took a few minor knocks on Thursday night and Ryan and Michael have been on the treatment table, but we expect them to be okay for tonight’s game,” said Slade, who has seen his side win their last two matches.

“Before Thursday’s game against Brentford everyone was saying what a great start they had made to the season and they were right up there. Well the fact of the matter is that we are two points behind them with a game in hand.”

But Slade admits his side had to dig deep for their victory against Brentford.

“It was a tough first half for us and I thought we were a little bit edgy, I don’t know if it was because the cameras were here or if they came with a slightly different game plan and different shape first half, but we weren’t getting too them.

“We were giving them too much time and room on the ball, but we put that right, we galvanised ourselves at half time and we were more competitive in the second half and we came out on top in a tight game

“That was key; we stayed in the game, especially when we were under a lot of pressure in the first half.

“It’s a good Brentford side and so it should be the money they have paid to put it together.

“We have stayed in there and it the second half we got competitive and there were some great performances.

“We defended really well, the two centre halves continue to make progress and we looked really resolute at the back. In the end it was their back four that just crumbled at the crucial time, not mine.”