O’s defender Ben Chorley joked that maybe he should shoot more often after his dramatic late strike saw Orient return from Huddersfield with a precious point.

The 28-year-old found the net in injury time on Saturday in West Yorkshire for his second goal of the season but insists he would swap his goals for a clean sheet.

Orient have only shut the opposition out once in the league this season – something that Chorley maintains is a concern for him as a defender.

The former Arsenal trainee explained: “It is a concern for me. Obviously, I am a centre half and we had quite a few (clean sheets) last year.

“As a team we are not defending properly. It needs to be hard for teams to score against us.”

When asked if a consistent backline was integral to keeping those clean sheets, Chorley said that “without a doubt” it is an important factor.

The defender pointed towards the example of Charlton Athletic at the opposite end of the League One table, where manager Chris Powell has had to make very few changes to his starting XI all season.

The rearguard in E10 has not had such a luxury however, with Chorley the only ever-present at the back for the O’s after Charlie Daniels was forced to sit out Saturday’s match.

Chorley is currently partnered by Terrell Forbes in the heart of that defence - continuing the “Tango & Cash” union of the last campaign - but as the defender pointed out himself that has not always been the case this season.

“Consistency definitely helps. Terrell missed the whole of pre-season,” explained Chorley.

“There have been a few different partnerships. You definitely need to have a balanced back four, or the spine of a team.”

Going forward however, Chorley’s strike on Saturday was a confident and assured moment – one that had fellow goalscorer Kevin Lisbie joking that he had probably never hit the ball so well.

“I have had a few people say that. To me, ever since I left Arsenal, I have always had one. I have always had a good strike. Maybe I should shoot more often,” continued the defender.

“I just got my head over it and it went in.”

He added: “It looks like we are starting to score the goals.

“That is boding well for the future. I would swap my goals for a clean sheet.”

Chorley went on to add that Saturday’s draw could be the result the O’s need to turn their season around – hailing it a “massive point.”

“I felt that we handled them well. We dealt with everything that Huddersfield threw at us,” explained Chorley.

“We came out of it with our heads held high and hopefully long may that continue. We have got to start believing.”