Orient midfielder wants to maintain momentum

Leyton Orient midfielder Lloyd James wants the League One leaders to take their fine form into tonight’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy clash at Gillingham.

Russell Slade’s men made club history with a 2-1 win at Colchester on Saturday, as goals in each half from David Mooney and Kevin Lisbie sealed a fifth successive victory.

And the Brisbane Road club, despite being knocked out of the Capital One Cup by Premier League side Hull in extra time last midweek, will look to take their first step towards a Wembley final this evening, having got within touching distance last season before losing to Southend in the southern area final.

James said: “It was a hard-fought victory (at Colchester). We worked hard and we got what we deserved.

“The last 10, we always knew it was going to be tough to come and get a result, but we got the points and will look to take that onto Tuesday night.

“Obviously it’s in your legs, but you can mentally get through that.

“We knew we’d played 120 minutes but you can’t dwell on that, there’s no time, you’ve got to get on with the next game.”

In-form strikers Mooney and Lisbie took their tallies to five goals this season at the Weston Homes Community Stadium and James paid tribute to the front men, as well as fellow midfielder Dean Cox.

He added: “It’s just great to play with both of them and we’ve got Batts coming back from injury who’s a great striker as well.

“A lot of credit has to go to Coxy. He was outstanding, the deliveries he set up the two goals and his all-round workrate was brilliant.”

O’s were cheered on by more than 1,500 fans at Colchester and James is hoping the team can continue to produce the goods on the pitch, despite having this Saturday free due to Notts County having players away on international duty, to maintain the feel-good factor.

He said: “The fans were brilliant, they filled the whole stand and you could hear them in great voice, it was brilliant.

“Obviously we want to carry on playing, but we’ve had a lot of games in a short space of time so hopefully it’ll be good for us.

“It’s still early days, it’s only five games in, but if we keep performing like we have been then who knows at the end of the season?”