Leyton Orient boss Russell Slade insisted staying top of League One at Christmas does not ease the disappointment of their defeat to Crawley Town.

The O's suffered a 3-2 loss at home to John Gregory's side this afternoon but clung onto top spot on goal difference from Wolves. 

Slade said: "It doesn't hide our disappointment, I have to say. It's a disappointing changing room because we feel this is a game we've let slip away from us."

Orient led early on through Moses Odubajo's strike but Crawley Town hit back with three goals before a late effort from Marvin Bartley. 

Slade admitted: "Obviously the result is really disappointing. We had to come from behind in the end having got off to a half decent start, even though I didn't think we were playing at our best.

"After they equalised to be honest I thought that was probably one of our poorest 15 or 20 minute spells we've had all season, so we were very disappointed with that."

He added: "Second half obviously we rolled our sleeves up and I thought we were very pro-active and on the front foot trying to push forward and get that all important goal which would have dragged us back into the game. 

"But it wasn't to be and we made a mistake at the back and it's cost us dearly. We managed to get a goal back but it wasn't enough."