Leyton Orient defender George Elokobi insists that head coach Steve Davis did not have to say much in the aftermath of their defeat at Sutton – and he didn’t need to – with the disappointment of the opening day acting as the catalyst for a much improved performance in their 3-1 win over Solihull Moors.

The vastly experienced Cameroonian, who joined the O’s from Colchester United, believes that his teammates were able to identify what went wrong on Saturday and put that right on the training ground. Whatever they worked on did the trick as Orient secured their first National League win of the season on Tuesday.

“He was happy, not that we lost, but he was happy with the way we tried to play football at times, but he was also critical about how he wanted us to break teams down,” Elokobi said.

“We’ve assessed that and we’ve moved on. We tried to implement what we’ve just done at the training ground and hopefully its working and there’s plenty more to come from us.”

Elokobi anchored a much improved Orient defence that, minus one or two scares – including a ropey Joe Widdowson back pass – looked the part in a role reversal of Saturday. On this occasion the former Wolves defender was on the right side of the result thanks, in part, to a strong collective defensive performance.

In his eyes it was the perfect reaction, despite the obvious disappointment that comes with the failure to keep a clean sheet on a night when Solihull created very little.

“Good teams do bounce back and we know how good we can be, no disrespect to anyone,” Elokobi said.”

“But at the same time, after losing on Saturday, we had to make sure that we came out here and put it right. We did create some chances on Saturday but not as much as we would have liked to, and when you create these chances in games you have got to take them.

“Some of them [the goals] were scrappy but they went in the back of the net and that is what we all aspire to do when we play.”

The victory represents something of a small step on the road to what O’s fans will hope will be a season that culminates in promotion. # It is, however, far too premature to be talking about permutations and league finishes, though that does not, and should not, diminish the obvious ambitions the club hold as they target a Football League return as soon as possible.

The National League represents of the toughest and most unforgiving divisions in English football – just ask the likes of Tranmere, Macclesfield or York about that.

Though that’s not to say promotion at the first time of asking can’t be done, as Bristol Rovers and Cheltenham who struck gold with a winning formula showed.

Orient though very much represent a work in progress, something Elokobi and most connected with the club recognise at this early juncture in the season.

He said: “We don’t want to get carried away, we are nowhere near the finished article yet. We are still improving as a squad and I am sure there is plenty more left to come.

“We will definitely improve under the gaffer and hopefully we carry on working hard. Don’t get me wrong, some days it won’t happen for us but we just want to put on a good performance that warrants the fans to be appreciative of our efforts.”

Elokobi knows all about transformations. He was a part of a Wolves side that was promoted to the Premier League and, before that, a Colchester team who finished 10th in the Championship. Closer to home he has already bore witness to the extraordinary changes taking place on and off the pitch at the Matchroom Stadium.

Indeed, Elokobi is uniquely placed to comment having played against Orient for Colchester in the last home game of last season where the atmosphere was something that can only be described as toxic.

Now, the 31-year-old has noticed a marked difference in the mood around the club and expressed his delight that the O’s are now in safe hands following a traumatic last three years, also praising the fans for turning out in such large numbers.

He said: “The fans have already shown that from day one since I arrived at the football club. They showed that on Saturday as well with the numbers we had at Sutton and again [on Tuesday], wow, you don’t get these [attendances] in League One at some teams.

“It was amazing, the noise, and you can see everyone was really, really happy. The place was buzzing and coming in before the game I said to the gaffer: ‘wow the fans are in and they’re turning up’ and it’s always good to see that, long may it continue.

“I’m happy that the fans have got their football club back and they know it’s in good hands now, and hopefully we can continue putting in performances both home and away for them to get excited about.”

Next up for Orient is the visit of Maidstone United on Saturday as they go in search of back-to-back home wins.

The game is also set to hold even greater significance for Elokobi as he could line up opposite the man he partnered at the heart of the Colchester defence against Orient in April, Alex Wynter, who has just moved to The Stones.

He said: “I look forward to seeing him and hopefully I play against him. He’s a fantastic lad Wynter, a good player as well, that deserves to be playing week in week out. So hopefully he gets the opportunity to show what he can do in this league and, at the same time, I wish him all the best.”