O’s midfielder discusses spirit in the side and how it is a dream to play with the other attackers in the team

The good times seem to be back at Brisbane Road and even though Leyton Orient midfielder Dean Cox is trying not to get too excited, he can’t help but show his delight at how Ian Hendon’s team have started their league campaign.

After beating Stevenage 3-0 on Tuesday, the O’s sit top of League Two with three games played and a maximum nine points.

It is early days yet and there’s a long way to go, but the positivity is back in E10 and the fans, players and management team are all thrilled with this start.

Cox, 28, believes similarities are starting to develop with the 2013/14 season where Orient did so well in League One and came extremely close to promotion.

“It is about quality not quantity with our squad. The year we did well in League One with Russell Slade we had a tight-knit group and, looking at it, it seems the same this season,” said Cox.

“I don’t want to get too excited because we are only three games in, but we are looking good and keeping the back door closed.

“With the players we have got going forward we are always going to create chances and score goals.

“The spirit in the camp feels like how it was two years ago and I can’t wait to go back to training.”

You can see the strong morale in the Orient squad whenever they find the net and that was displayed again at Brisbane Road against Teddy Sheringham’s Stevenage.

Jay Simpson headed in Cox’s cross to make it 1-0 with 74 minutes gone, before substitutes Blair Turgott and Ollie Palmer showed their ability by scoring in the final six minutes of the match to seal a wonderful night for the O’s.

With all three goals, the whole squad joined together to celebrate and Cox is relishing playing alongside the attackers available to Hendon at the moment.

Paul McCallum and Simpson have both scored twice already this season and Palmer is off the mark now as well.

“It is an absolute dream to play with our forwards at the moment because from my point of view it is about getting the ball out of my feet and into the box,” added Cox.

“The other boys up top are doing their job and you can’t groan. I pride myself on goals and assists and I want to get as many as I can.

“If I’m not doing that then I am not doing my job. At the moment I have had one flukey free-kick against Dagenham and I hope the fans don’t expect many more!

“But all I want to do if I can is create goals, score some and help the team do well.”

Although O’s have a relatively small squad, it seems like that has contributed towards their team spirit and Cox believes that the competition for places is keeping everybody on their toes.

That was evident in midweek with substitutes Turgott and Palmer both scoring and making a claim to start at Newport County this weekend.

Cox added: “Blair has come on and had an absolute stormer. That is going to be crucial this season, people coming off the bench and doing well.

“Him and Ollie are both hungry and they want to do well. That is what you need from your bench and competition for places is fierce so everyone has got to try and keep the shirt.”

Cox is definitely enjoying himself this year and the Orient fans are too. He has been excellent so far this season and long may that continue for Hendon and co.