Leyton Orient player-manager Kevin Nolan admits his side have to improve in the final third after their 1-0 defeat at promotion rivals Accrington Stanley.

The O's dropped out of the League Two play-offs after this afternoon's result which was their first away defeat under Nolan.

Orient failed to test home goalkeeper Ross Etheridge and could have no complaints about the scoreline after Scott Brown's second-half winner.

Nolan said: "Listen we've limited them to very few opportunities today. But we can't just keep relying on that clean sheet to get us through all the time.

"We've got to start getting better with the forward play. We work all week on the training ground and do a lot of practice on finishing but today it just didn't work. Credit obviously goes to the back four of Accrington."

Nolan added: "I'm just thinking today we haven't done the right things more often than not.

"In the final third we haven't produced a lot but I don't think they did really so it was just one of those games. One bit of quality from them and they score a goal."

Orient were without midfielders Jobi McAnuff and Calaum Jahraldo-Martin, due to international duty, and Nolan believes all of the games over the weekend should have been off to ensure teams were not weakened.

The O's boss said: "Listen when it comes round to it [international break] I've always had the weekend off. This is a first for me. I think it should just all be off.

"People shouldn't have to have three internationals [to postpone match] because they're normally your best players and if they're going away on international duty it's obviously weakening your side. I think it's something they should look at to be honest."

He added: "That's probably the only bad thing about is that you lose two wingers and if you're trying to get yourself back in a game or you're thinking about changing something they're normally the ones that can show you that bit of magic and get you back into it.

"That is a loss but at the end of the day it's up to the boys now to step into their shoes."