Orient can only afford one more defeat if they want to make the play-off's

The O's boss saw his side's chances of securing a top six finish suffer a real blow after a heavy 3-0 home defeat against Carlisle, as well as saw winger JJ Melligan sent off for a two-footed tackle in the first half.

"I don't want to use the sending off as an excuse because it isn't the reason why we lost the game.

"We had already done that before the red card incident, because before then we offered nothing.

"I have said to Sean Thornton and Adam Boyd the reason why I took them off at half time was because they are the players we look to get the passing going. But they didn't do that along with everyone else and that is why we struggled.

"We got beaten by a better team on the day and the Play-off's now are looking unrealistic.

"As I've said before I still believe we will need 16 more points and we only have 21 to play for now. So that means we can only afford to drop five points from the next seven games, which only affords us one more defeat this season."

Reflecting on Melligan's sending off Ling added: "I thought it was a harsh sending off and that it was a yellow card.

"But when you watch it back on the video he has got both feet off the floor, and while he won the ball he also caught the man slightly.

"In the current climate it is pointless appealing because it wont be successful.

"I do however think it is a harsh sending off and that the referee couldn't wait to get his red card out fast enough.

"I know JJ isn't a dirty player, but he doesn't do himself any favours going in with both feet off the floor, because nowday's that is worthy of a sending off."

Ling has now hinted that there will be changes to the team ahead of the trip to Cheltenham on Monday.

He continued: "Everyone who is fit will rightly consider their chances of playing, because it wasn't good enough today.

"So there will be changes and we've got to look to bounce back now at Cheltenham on Monday."