Leyton Orient head coach Justin Edinburgh felt his side lacked belief after they were knocked out of the FA Cup thanks to a 2-0 defeat to Maidstone United on Saturday.

Goals from Blair Turgott and Elliott Romain secured the Stones the win, bringing Orient’s hopes of a cup run to an end.

Edinburgh previously challenged his team to take inspiration from the likes of Sutton United as well as Lincoln City in this year’s competition and made six changes to the side which drew with Hartlepool United, with the O’s also lining up in a new 3-5-2 formation.

Dan Happe was handed his first start of the campaign alongside Josh Coulson as well as Marvin Ekpiteta in a back three, while Alex Lawless and Charlie Lee lined up in midfield.

Dale Gorman was also handed his first start for the O’s, having returned from international duty in mid-week, while James Brophy and Sam Ling operated at wing-back.

Following a relatively even first half, former O’s man Turgott opened the scoring ten minutes after the re-start when he was allowed to practically run the entire length of the pitch after an Orient corner had been cleared before slotting past Dean Brill.

Romain, who signed for the Stones from Dagenham and Redbridge just days before the game, added a second with 15 minutes remaining, as he poked the ball past Brill after racing through on goal.

Edinburgh was frustrated with the goals his side conceded at the Gallagher Stadium and felt the O’s lacked a cutting edge during the final third on Saturday when speaking after the final whistle. 

Speaking to Leyton Orient’s website, he said: “It was two really bad goals for us to concede and it’s not what we are about. That’s the disappointing thing.

“I think the manor of the goals and the reaction when we went 1-0 down wasn’t a reaction that we had seen previously. We became very erratic and lacked composure and that would be the disappointing thing for me. After we went behind, I just felt we didn’t have enough belief to get ourselves back in the game.

“For long periods in the first half we dominated. We looked good. I just feel we’re getting caught between being a real passing team and over emphasising that in the final third and not being as direct as we should be in the final third to create enough chances to worry the opposition.”

On his decision to change formation and go to three at the back, Edinburgh added: “We didn’t have a recognised left-back. Today wasn’t about shape, but it’s about poor goals and not being decisive in the final third.”