Justin Edinburgh’s team host fellow strugglers Woking on Saturday looking to earn their first victory on home soil since Boxing Day

East London Advertiser: Leyton Orient centre back George Elokobi clears the ball forward despite close attention from Ebbsfleet United forward Danny Kedwell (pic: Simon O'Connor).Leyton Orient centre back George Elokobi clears the ball forward despite close attention from Ebbsfleet United forward Danny Kedwell (pic: Simon O'Connor). (Image: Simon O'Connor Photography)

George Elokobi has told Leyton Orient they have no excuses this weekend when they entertain Woking in National League.

The O’s return to Brisbane Road on Saturday looking to end a six-game run without a victory in all competitions which does only date back to February 20.

Orient have drawn a number of those six matches, but the struggles on their own pitch are more of a worry for boss Justin Edinburgh.

Boxing Day was the last time O’s won at home – seven games ago – and the state of the surface has come into question in recent months.

But ex-Colchester United defender Elokobi has rejected the chance to hide behind it. He said: “We’re not going to blame losing games at home down to the football pitch. There are worst pitches than ours.

“We are all trying our best to play the way we play in training from the messages given to us by the gaffer. We could start making excuses, but there were no excuses for the way we performed against Torquay (1-0 defeat on March 13).

“I should have done better from the cross, so I blame myself. I was close, but not close enough and I had body contact, yet it was a fantastic header from their man (Elliott Romain).

“Again, if you want to win you have to defend and I will not start making excusing by blaming the pitch.

“Torquay played on the same pitch as us and they got the victory, so I say congratulations to them, but for us we need to move on.”

Orient produced a better display at Eastleigh on Saturday, but again they fired a blank in front of goal as the contest ended goalless.

The result keeps Edinburgh’s men in 17th position and on 44 points, but they realistically need another six before they can be assured of their place in the division for next season.

Saturday’s match is actually a big one in the grand scheme of things with Woking on the same number of points as the O’s, but one spot below them in the table due to a worst goal difference.

The Cards are also out of sorts and last won on February 10, so whoever picks up the points this weekend will take a big step towards safety.

Elokobi added: “We haven’t given the fans much to cheer about this season if I’m honest. Every time we play we have to try and give a good account of ourselves to give the fans something to cheer about.”

With relegation-threatened Solihull Moors and lowly Hartlepool United winning during the week, O’s could really do with a positive result on Saturday.