Saturday’s home game against fancied promotion candidates Sheffield Wednesday resulted in a 1-0 win for the visitors that plunged the O’s into a relegation battle which, at the time of writing, left Orient just four points off the drop zone.

With nine to play including two games in hand, the first tonight at Oldham Athletic, Russell Slade says they are all cup finals. To right.

Saturday’s positives were that we hung on in there and we stayed in the game with their relentless one way traffic onslaught in the first half. They had a hatful of chances. On three or four occasions they shot wide with the O’s just doing enough to put them off their stride. So it was unfortunate that we conceded early in the second half to Wednesday defender Reda Johnson’s goal which came from a free-kick that, after a lot of pushing and shoving in the box, allowed him to become free and the ball seemed to rebound off him to score.

After that, the O’s began going forward and following some continued good work, substitute George Porter shot just wide at the death. It was closer than close.

May battle commence. We have been there before. Against the Owls the spirit in the side was good and we still have a good sense of belief in ourselves. It is so bunched up down there, three points can send you jumping up the table.

After Oldham comes Charlton Athletic. They are still top but their form has recently fallen away so we should relish the London derby with gusto.

Keep the faith.

Up the O’s.