Leyton Orient head coach Justin Edinburgh admits he was disappointed at the uncharacteristic way in which his side squandered a lead to lose 2-1 at Dagenham & Redbridge.

The National League leaders suffered only their third defeat of the campaign which saw the gap at the top cut to three points.

Edinburgh told Orient’s YouTube channel: “It was a scrappy affair. It was very tight against an in-form team, but very unlike us when we went into the lead to let it slip. The way we let it slip [was disappointing] because we looked in control but just switched off at times. It’s very unlike us to allow those goals to be scored against us.

“We had to weather the storm and thought they started brightly but they’ve won a lot of games recently. We knew it would be a tough encounter but once we weathered that storm I thought second half we started really well and after going 1-0 up I couldn’t envisage us losing the game.”

The O’s took the lead in the 73rd minute of the Boxing Day clash when Josh Koroma tucked the ball underneath goalkeeper Elliot Justham.

But Dagenham equalised within four minutes when Alexander McQueen netted the rebound after Dean Brill parried Angelo Balanta’s shot.

The hosts grabbed the winner in the 87th minute through Ben Nunn’s strike to hand Orient a rare defeat.

The O’s received a setback in the build-up with Jobi McAnuff ruled out due to a fractured toe which he suffered in Saturday’s win over Chesterfield.

Edinburgh said: “It’s always a big impact and also we’ve lost James Dayton so we’re light in that area. We’ve had to move Josh Koroma out wide who has been in scintillating form up front. But it still didn’t affect the game. We went 1-0 up and should have seen the game out.

“Of course it’s a big loss. He’s [McAnuff] our captain and he’s been excellent since the day I arrived here. He’s been in very good form but that’s how it is.”

Orient will bid to bounce back this weekend when they visit Dover Athletic on Saturday.