33-year-old full of praise for Brisbane Road faithful and insists squad are not losing hope despite 3-2 defeat to Notts County

Danny Webb hailed the support of the Leyton Orient fans after Saturday’s 3-2 defeat to Notts County in League Two and insisted the squad are not giving up on beating the drop just yet.

The O’s players were given a standing ovation at Brisbane Road even though Jon Stead’s 84th minute strike ensured they suffered a narrow defeat.

Goals from Paul McCallum and Teddy Mezague helped Orient come back from two down to level before Stead struck to nick the points for the Magpies.

“From where this team has come over the course of the season, there are real positive signs,” insisted Webb.

“I said to the boys ‘you are being kicked in the nuts every week and just when you think you can’t get anymore, another kick comes in’ but they are taking it and not going down.

“They are not throwing it in and everybody should be proud of them. I can’t thank the supporters enough.

“They are seeing what I’m trying to do and they are seeing what I’ve got with the young lads and what they are giving back.”

Orient supporters went through an emotional roller-coaster on Saturday with several highs and lows at Brisbane Road.

Jorge Grant opened the scoring for County after some poor defending by O’s with 35 minutes played.

Webb’s team had created a couple of decent opportunities before the visitors made the breakthrough with Gavin Massey, McCallum and Nigel Atangana going close.

Although it stayed level until the break, there was plenty of optimism ahead of the second half, but Magpies doubled their advantage straight away.

Sam Sargeant came for Mark Yeates’ cross, but Stead managed to knock the ball in despite the O’s goalkeeper appearing to have two hands on the ball.

But Orient fought back brilliantly with McCallum heading home after Atangana hit the crossbar with a header.

Mezague then enabled Brisbane Road to erupt after exquisitely volleying home the equaliser in the 81st minute.

It was short-lived, however, as a catalogue of defensive mistakes saw Stead picked out at the back post and he slotted past Sargeant.

Webb praised the effort of his players and revealed some of the opposition told the younger members of Orient’s squad not to give up.

He added: “There are plenty of games left. From the start I did say we are probably favourites to go down.

“People have written us off and maybe they still are writing us off, but when we came off the pitch, players like Shola Ameobi were putting their arms around the young lads saying ‘there is no way you are going down playing like that’.

“I know talk is cheap, but the players, and myself, are giving the club the best chance possible of staying up.

“Players are being thrown in the deep end all over the place and it is my first job, so I’ve been thrown in the deep end because we have a lot of 17-year-olds as replacements, but that’s what it is.

“I signed up to it and I knew the situation and I’m very proud of those young players and there hasn’t been a game yet where I’ve had to dig anybody out.

“I haven’t had to criticise a senior pro and pull them to one side and say ‘I need more from you’ because I can’t ask for any more.”