Danny Webb admitted it was a ‘bruising’ night after Leyton Orient lost 4-1 to Stevenage with Hartlepool United and Cheltenham both winning a vital three points.

Ben Kennedy, Matt Godden, Tom Pett and Luke Wilkinson were all on the scoresheet for The Boro who have now guided themselves into a playoff spot.

Paul McCallum scored in the first half to reduce the deficit and Josh Koroma was denied a second-half goal as referee Charles Breakspear called for a foul on Chris Day.

But all in all, it was a tough day at the office for the E10 club with them now six points adrift of the safety zone.

Webb said: “Very much so. I have just seen the other scores and sometimes that is on the cards. Over the course of the season, you cannot keep losing games and say oh the others lost.

“That can only go on for so long. Sooner or later Hartlepool (United) were going to thump someone, we just hoped we could get a win tonight and keep ourselves in touching distance.

“It was not to be obviously, to lose 4-1, at the fourth, you think it could be five maybe six. It wasn’t. This is football. This is football when you are down the bottom and it is not nice.

“It is not nice if you lose 4-1 to Stevenage or lose 1-0 at home to Cheltenham. It is not nice to lose games.”

Once again the youngsters such as Josh Koroma, Myles Judd, Michael Clark and Freddie Moncur shone in what was a rather bleak evening for the O’s.

When asked about their performance the 33-year-old said: “I might say a few things tonight that might get their back up a bit, they want the here and now.

“And I get that. No one wants to see this club drop out the league. I have been here four, five years working right through the academy.

“People have been here supporting the club 60-70 years. I am not going to try and put myself in the same boat as them. They do not want to see this team drop out and nor do I.”

“And it is not done yet. But there has been a reactive state for a while at this club now. Everyone has looked back, everyone has looked at the here and now and panicked.

“We have signed a lot of people rashly, on high wages, I won’t say numbers, but players out there tonight on £150 a week who are giving their all, who have a big future in the game.

“And they are 17, 18-year-olds. I do urge the fans, as frustrating as it is, to try and look to the future. Rightly or wrongly, that’s how I have gone into it.

“Even with the great result at Plymouth (Argyle) and Yeovil (Town), I wasn’t silly. I sort of knew that unfortunately, you would have nights like this.

“And I am not banging on people’s doors going I need more players. I know what I signed up for. I have gone into it at first. I have thrown those youngsters into it as I know they are up to it.

“They will make mistakes, but the older pros make mistakes. If they keep giving the effort like that, that will only benefit them and the club in the future.”

Orient went down 1-0 within the first 20 minutes through a Kennedy header before Nicky Hunt fouled Wilkinson in the box which allowed referee Charles Breakspear to point to the spot which Godden converted.

“Hunty (Nicky Hunt) made the mistake for the penalty. I have not seen the goals back yet but I am sure there are people to blame for the goals,” said the former Southend player.

“And if there is, someone has made a mistake somewhere. The only criticism I gave to the group was to give away the third goal so quickly after half-time.

“That is something we have done ever since I was the just first-team coach. It is the story of the season. That was my biggest rant but I cannot criticise people too much for making mistakes when they are showing an effort.

“They are carrying people through games and playing through injuries. It is a lot of the same stories every week.

“But tonight, especially when we had seven or eight youth team lads at the end, it was a proud moment for me and I know, I can’t ask people to be too proud when they see their team lose 4-1.

“All those boys will give blood for this team. They are all local lads and they will keep giving blood whether you are playing away at Newport.

“Which will be an absolute battle that will only help their development. They are not being played here to go onto bigger and better things.

“I want them to be a part of the future here at the club.”

Orient face Newport on Saturday at the Rodney Parade (3pm kick-off).