Russell Slade admits he was disappointed not to take all three points from Tuesday night’s game at Bristol City but the O’s boss insists both he and the players are still loving life at the top end of League One.

The O’s led twice through David Mooney and Dean Cox but were pegged back as the Robins earned a well-deserved 2-2 draw after goals from Sam Baldock and a Scott Cuthbert own-goal.

The result means Orient surrendered their position at the summit of League One but when asked if he and his players were feeling the weight of expectation on their shoulders, Slade was adamant.

“I’m absolutely loving it, honestly, and I think the players are too,” he said after the match.

“They went out there, they didn't hesitate, they played with a freedom - we want them to do that and we want them to solve problems on the pitch themselves and find a way of winning a game and managing a game and staying in control at the same time.

“We give them that credit as well and we trust them out there - honestly, we're all loving it.”

After going 2-1 up in the second half, Orient conceded a goal within two minutes of the restart from a corner and Slade admits his team were too generous with the goals they gave away.

“We're disappointed, we were twice in front,” he said. “Obviously one goal we conceded was from a set-play and then one from a counter-attack.

“We flag these things up, the counter-attack is obviously a bit of a strength of theirs and it was a bit too easy for Baldock to get in.

“And the other one came from a second phase of a corner and we're normally very good in those situations.”

But the O’s boss remained positive and insists that after the 3-1 win at Swindon Town on Saturday, four points from two away matches is an excellent return.

“We’ve been to Bristol City, we've dominated for large periods of the game and we're disappointed we've drawn 2-2 and taken four points from two away games and we should be delighted really,” he said.

“Our own expectations have risen. We're disappointed because we feel we should be winning a game like that but fair play to Bristol City.

“They've gone a goal down and their confidence probably hasn't been fantastic over the past few weeks but they kept coming back at us, they kept trying and you have to give them a lot of credit for that.”

Slade continued: “They probably played a little bit above their regular performance of recent weeks and for us to come and set out a stall and go forward again is great.

“We've had two tough away games now and we got four points and sometimes you have to be satisfied with that.

“We know we've been knocked off the top of the table but then we have another chance on Saturday to go back to the top.”

Orient host Sheffield United on Saturday who are currently one place above Bristol City in 21st and Slade says it’s another big test for his team both mentally and physically.

“They're all big games, they're all cup finals, every week is a new challenge and you have to embrace it and enjoy them,” he said.

“My only concern now is the recovery of the players in the short time before Saturday's game. It looks like Lloyd James has taken a bit of a calf strain so we have to be wary we recover in time and do everything we possibly can to be as strong as we can on Saturday.”