Fabio Liverani is adamant the players still believe they can avoid relegation despite a hammer blow to Leyton Orient’s survival hopes after losing at home to Doncaster Rovers.

Only goal difference is keeping the O’s outside the League One drop zone with four games remaining and Orient have taken just two points from their last three matches.

The side appeared to turn a corner after climbing out of the bottom four with a win at Coventry City at the start of this month.

But two draws against Gillingham and Crewe Alexandra, along with Tuesday’s 1-0 loss to Rovers, is a poor return which has left Orient clinging onto their place in the division.

The O’s manager said: “If you look at the games we play we might lose, win or draw. But the spirit is there and we create chances. We might not score and are lacking quality in certain areas of the pitch but the spirit is without a doubt there when we play so of course they believe we can avoid relegation.”

The Italian said: “We must have determination, belief and work hard in achieving the final objective. We are still outside the relegation zone and we have to see this as a target to maintain.”

Some Orient fans were left fearing the worst after the disappointment of their midweek defeat but Liverani insists the team will give everything to ensure they avoid dropping down to League Two.

“Fair enough the supporters are disappointed,” he said. “What I can assure them is we are going to work even harder every day in training to put everything into the games to avoid relegation and give our very best in the last four games.”