French midfielder confident of making play-offs and believes they have seven cup finals

Nigel Atangana has warned Leyton Orient that League Two strugglers York City will make it incredibly tough for them this weekend.

The Minstermen are fighting to avoid dropping out of the Football League and are seven points from safety.

Kevin Nolan’s men will be desperate to bounce back at Bootham Crescent, though, after losing twice over Easter.

Defeats at Accrington Stanley and to Hartlepool United at home have seen O’s drop to eighth in the table.

But a victory at York this weekend could see them move back ahead of Wycombe Wanderers and into the play-off positions.

“Sometimes it is not easy to play against these teams fighting for their lives. We will do the maximum we can,” said Atangana.

“I know we have seven games left and we’re all focused to make the play-offs. It doesn’t matter if we play Plymouth Argyle or Barnet – we need to win so we will try and do that.

“We expect a tough fixture and it is always difficult to play against clubs at the bottom of the league. It is seven matches, it will be hard, but we need to keep believing and play our game.”

The former Portsmouth midfielder went on to insist there is no need to panic despite two back-to-back losses.

Wycombe are only two points ahead of Orient, but have some tricky fixtures still to come and are at home to AFC Wimbledon on Saturday – another side pushing to finish in the top seven.

Atangana believes the O’s have seven cup finals remaining, adding: “I think we are just two points behind the play-offs so if Wycombe lost the next game and we win, we are back in. We need to make sure we are all ready and fresh for York match.

“It is seven finals now and we need to think game per game and if we do the right things, I’m sure we will make the play-offs. It is very important and we need to give the maximum we can.”

A victory at Bootham Crescent will ensure the disappointment of last weekend can be forgotten.