Russell Slade has hailed the importance of Saturday’s 1-0 victory for his side.

In a game of few chances, Dean Cox’s late first half strike proved decisive as the O’s were able to claim three points for the third game running.

Although the manager was quick to point out that the fixture list is not about to get any easier for the club, he believes the string of results they have put together has lifted everyone in E10.

Slade said: “We are in the pack now. We have got a really tough game on Saturday against Sheffield United so we will look forward to that obviously. It is a big game for us. And then we go to Yeovil in midweek.

“It doesn’t get any easier but I think we are probably in a better frame of mind tackling these because when you are not getting a result it is tough and they are long days in football.

“But we have got a couple of results now and it has lifted everything – It has lifted the spirits, it has lifted coming into training, day in and day out.

“Hopefully we will play with an air of confidence on Saturday.”

The O’s could be welcoming faces back into the matchday squad for the visit of Sheffield United as the club look to put their run of injuries behind them.

Slade confirmed both Ben Alnwick and Ben Chorley could be in contention to feature against the Blades, meaning the manager would have a selection headache for the first time this season.

“Players are getting very very close,” said Slade at the weekend. “Ben Alnwick was so close today to being included - Ben Chorley as well.

He continued: “Jimmy (Smith), he is going to need most of the week, but again he is another one who has a real possibility for Saturday.

“Competition is good for places. There are still players that need football. We have been organising one or two behind closed door games to keep them ticking over as well.

“All is good at the minute. We are getting back from what was an horrendous start in terms of performance, in terms or results, in terms of our injury list but we have stayed together. We have worked hard together.

“We have had to adjust as well – we have had to adapt in terms of the way we play and to dig ourselves out of the situation we are in and I make no apology for that.

“Sometimes it is probably not the desired football or quite the quality that we played with last season at times but at the minute we are still digging ourselves out of a hole.

“We have gone a long way with the three results and we need to keep that going.”