Marvin Ekpiteta has praised Leyton Orient’s team spirit and says this is the best squad he has ever been a part of during his career.

The O’s have shown plenty of character in the early weeks of the season and that was further highlighted on Saturday, when they bounced back from their first defeat of the campaign in style by beating Maidenhead 2-0.

Some were intrigued to see how Orient would react following their loss to Sutton United, but they passed their first real test with flying colours thanks to goals from Macauley Bonne and James Alabi at York Road.

Ekpiteta has certainly played an important role in the O’s promising start to the campaign, helping Justin Edinburgh’s side keep six clean sheets, and he has proven to be a threat down the other end as well, scoring three times, including a crucial late equaliser against Gateshead.

There is a real feel good factor developing around Brisbane Road at the present moment and Ekpiteta feels that is partly down to the camaraderie in the dressing room.

The centre-back said: “It’s definitely the best squad I’ve been part of as there’s not one player who isn’t involved in the squad. We do everything together and everyone is on the same page and works for each other and that helps.

“When you’re playing with players that you really get on with, you want to play for them, run for them and win for them. That’s what keeps us going and when we score last minute goals, we keep going until the end because everyone wants to do it for each other and everyone is putting in that little extra 10%.”

The O’s promising start to the campaign follows on from the club’s strong end to last season under head coach Edinburgh, who has managed to turn Orient’s fortunes around in the space of 10 months.

When Edinburgh succeeded Steve Davis as head coach back in November, the East London side were without a win in 14 league games and struggling at the wrong end of the table in 19th.

But the former Gillingham and Northampton Town boss slowly managed to get the O’s moving in the right direction and they went on to secure a 13th place finish in the National League last season, thanks to a strong end to the campaign which saw them lose just two of their last eight games.

Orient have certainly lived up to their tag of being one of the favourites for promotion this season following an excellent start to the campaign, which saw them go on a club record 13 game unbeaten run.

Ekpiteta, alongside youngster Josh Koroma, has flourished under Edinburgh’s stewardship and praised the head coach’s man management skills.

On Edinburgh, Ekpiteta said: “He’s been really good. He’s a top gaffer. He’s bang on with everything and makes you want to give your best.

“He knows how to get the best out of the players and he’s been getting the best out of me as well. Before I came into the team, he kept telling me to keep training hard as my chance would come. I’ve got my chance now and I’ve taken it.”