Joe Widdowson says he enjoyed the experience of playing as a centre-half after being deployed there against Dover Athletic by O’s head coach Justin Edinburgh.

The 28-year-old partnered Josh Coulson at centre-back on Saturday after Dan Happe missed the game through illness, with Sam Ling coming into the side to make his first start at left-back.

Widdowson admitted that it’s not the first time he’s played as a centre-half either and also praised the performance of Ling on his first start for the club, after he returned to Brisbane Road last month from Dagenham and Redbridge.

Speaking to Leyton Orient’s website, Widdowson said: “I played there a little bit earlier on in the season so I don’t mind it. It’s not too dissimilar to left-back so I quite enjoy it there. Lingy (Sam Ling) played left-back today and he did very well.

“I know Lingy (Sam Ling) well from Dagenham and Redbridge. He’s comfortable at either right-back or left-back and he can use both feet. He came in and did well. It was good for Marvin (Expiteta) to come on and make his first appearance as well. Both are young players and they came in and did well.”

Orient’s four game unbeaten run in the National League was brought to an end on Saturday, as Mitch Pinnock’s goal seven minutes from time secured Dover a 1-0 win at the Crabble Athletic Ground.

The result leaves the O’s in 16th place in the table, eight points from the relegation zone, and Widdowson admitted that the team didn’t do enough to earn a result at the weekend.

He said: “It’s disappointing with the result and the performance level wasn’t probably as good as it has been the last few games. We still had a good team out today and we didn’t play well enough. I’m disappointed with the goal we conceded. I thought it was heading for a 0-0.”