Footballers often get accused of not caring but there was no doubting how much Orient means to Josh Wright after the midfielder’s crucial winner at Coventry City last week.

As an East Londoner, Wright supported West Ham United growing up but he has always had an affinity with the O’s and is desperate to keep them in League One.

Speaking emotionally after Orient's 1-0 win at Coventry last Wednesday, Wright said: “I was born in East London myself in Bethnal Green. That’s where my family originates from. My grandad had pubs there and I’ve lived local to there all my life.

“I now live in Chigwell, which I have since a young boy, it’s where we train and is a couple of miles from the stadium and Leyton Orient has always been in my heart, always a club that I followed from day one and I’ve got many people I know who support Orient.

“My family have always followed them. People I know have played with them over the years and it really does mean everything to me and I’m just pleased I’m here and nights like this are nights that I’ll always remember.”

Wright added: “They weren’t my main club when I was younger, that was West Ham. But Orient, call it my second team, call it what you want, were a club I followed and one that I always looked out for and loved. And as I said I love being here and doing it for the fans means everything to me.”

The O’s climbed out of the relegation zone for the first time since January after edging to victory at the Ricoh Arena. Orient certainly rode their luck at times before Wright scored his first goal for the club in the 78th minute.

Wright said: “Any goal is a great feeling but I mean this when I say it, it was just so important to come here and get a positive result.

“It means everything not just for myself but for the boys in there, the staff, the management and for that fantastic travelling support that turned up and I really mean this from the bottom of my heart that was for them and there was nothing more exciting for me.

“I can’t think of the words to say but I was so happy to do it in front of them and it really was for the fans to see them go home happy.”

Orient have certainly played a lot better in games this season and lost but Wright admitted the players had to grind out an ugly win over Tony Mowbray’s side.

He said: “Every game everyone’s fighting for their lives at this time of year whether you’re playing teams at the top, the bottom or in the middle because everyone’s playing for contracts, their careers, whatever way you want to look at it.

“We’re fighting for our livelihoods and it was a tough game, especially in the second half when we had to suck it up, if you want to call it that and we did. That happens in football. You have to do that.

“The best teams in the world have to do that and we did that and we broke away and we got that goal and then defended fantastically from there.”

Wright signed until the end of the season after being released by Millwall back in January. The midfielder would relish the chance to stay at Brisbane Road beyond the summer but is concentrating on the immediate task of helping the team stay up.

The 25-year-old, who scored again in Monday's draw with Gillingham, said: “I really am enjoying it and I’ve still got more to come. I’ve had a tough year-and-a-half to two years and it takes you time to get going.

"It’s tough when you’re playing at the bottom because things go against you, luck doesn’t drop for you but I love it here and I’d love to stay here.

"But the main focus now is on the remaining games to try get the points we need to keep this fantastic football club in this division and hopefully kick on next season.”