McSweeney: 'We know we are good enough' (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

Leon McSweeney concedes that Leyton Orient should be higher in the League One table

9:14am Thursday 2nd February 2012 in Leyton Orient By Matt Bass

O’s defender Leon McSweeney admits that given the strength of the squad in E10, Orient are underachieving at present.

Victory at Preston had seen Russell Slade’s side climb into the top half of League One for the first time this season, but Saturday’s loss saw them make an immediate return.

The tight nature of the division means that another three points this weekend could easily see Orient jump back into the upper reaches of the table at the first time of asking, but McSweeney admitted it is frustrating to be talking of mid-table form.

Asked if the O’s should be higher in the table, the 28-year-old replied: “Without a doubt.

“We always harp on that if you take the first ten games out of the season and if we started ten games later, we would probably comfortably be in the top six. Unfortunately we can’t do that.”

He continued: “We know we are good enough. We went to Preston and played a brand of football that got us applauded off by the home fans.

“We have come here today and we have completely let ourselves down if I am being honest.

“To come away with a 1-0 defeat when we could have been comfortably in the top ten after today’s result is very disappointing.”

Saturday’s loss was an unexpected blip following the highs of Preston the week previous, but McSweeney insisted there was no individual at fault - more that the blame would be shared around.

And looking again at the league table, the former Hartlepool man suggested despite the result, the example of Colchester proves there is little to be concerned about by the teams around the O’s.

“It is not easy to win in any game. You play the game to get an opportunity and when you do get an opportunity you hope to God that you take it. We have not done it.

“I am not blaming the strikers and I’m not blaming whoever the opportunity has fallen to because we have let in a sloppy goal at the other end.

“It was far too easy from our point of view to concede.”

He added: “You look at the teams around us and there is nothing to fear. I don’t think they (Colchester) played good football today but they can enjoy their weekend because they have got three points.”