ORIENT: Thornton is up for Town test (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

ORIENT: Thornton is up for Town test

9:20am Friday 19th March 2010 in

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ORIENT midfielder Sean Thornton has revealed the club are full of confidence heading into Saturday’s home game against promotion-chasing Huddersfield Town at Brisbane Road.

The Irishman, who ended the O’s search for their first win in eight games with a brace in the weekend’s 2-0 win over Walsall, admits spirits in the squad are high, following a dressing down by manager Geraint Williams after a 2-0 defeat at Oldham last week.

“The gaffer had a good chat after the game (against Oldham) and in training we’ve been getting team spirit and confidence back and it showed (against Walsall),” said Thornton.

The midfielder struck twice in the second half against the Saddlers to secure the points, which takes Orient up to 14th in the League One table, eight points above the relegation zone.

His first was a simple tap-in after Blackburn Rovers loanee Aaron Doran had his shot saved by goalkeeper Rene Gilmartin.

The second required far more work, as he received the ball on the edge of the box before shimmying inside a defender and slotting the ball into the far corner.

The brace prompted O’s boss Williams to hail him as one of the division’s top players.

“We all know he’s got that ability. When he gets up around the box he shows great calmness,” said the Welshman. “A lot of players would have panicked there but that’s the quality Sean has. When he’s on top of his game he’s as good as anything in this league in midfield.”

The win was the sixth game in a row that Orient had avoided defeat at the Matchroom Stadium. The results away from home have been less encouraging, and Thornton admitted he could not put his finger on the reason behind the pattern.

“It’s difficult to say (why we’re so much better at home),” he added. “We do create a lot more chances at home to be fair.”

However, the players do not have to fret about another road trip this week, as Huddersfield will be making the trip south to try and stop Orient’s impressive recent home record.

Thornton knows the team will be in for a tough battle, after they were soundly beaten 4-0 at the Galpharm Stadium earlier in the season.

“It’s a big game, they’re doing very well. We haven’t lost in six now though so we’ll go in there with a lot of confidence.”

Williams added: “It’s a great game to look forward to. Huddersfield are a smashing team. We actually got taken apart up there in the second half so we need to get a little bit of that back.

“It’s going to be a tough game, they’re a good footballing side. They’ll bring a good following with them so it will be a great atmosphere here and I’m sure the lads will be up for that one.”