Experienced winger knows squad won’t underestimate National League South strugglers on Saturday

Leyton Orient’s stand-in captain Jobi McAnuff is confident the squad will approach Saturday’s FA Trophy tie at Bognor Regis Town with the right mindset.

The O’s visit the National League South strugglers looking to see off another underdog and reach the third round of the competition.

In the first round, Orient survived a scare before winning 2-1 at Bostik North club Haringey Borough on their artificial surface at Coles Park.

Justin Edinburgh’s side will once again be overwhelming favourites this weekend, but their influential winger is backing the team to handle the pressure and keep up their solid recent form of one defeat in seven.

“Apparently Bognor like to get the ball down and play a bit, so it should be a good game and it’s one we are looking forward to,” said McAnuff.

“Obviously it is away from the league so in that respect everyone can go down there and enjoy it.

“We know it will be tough and it always is for us when we play a team from the lower-leagues because we’re a massive club so we have to accept that responsibility.

“But for me the biggest difference of late is our mentality going into games and not taking things for granted and just expecting to win.

“We are really going in and when we have got to mix it, we have got to mix it – it doesn’t matter who we are playing against and if we do that our quality will show, so as long as we keep doing that we’ll be alright.”

McAnuff has been able to enjoy a number of high points in his career, leading Reading to the Premier League in 2012 while also appearing for Jamaica in the Copa America during the summer of 2016.

Although he has shown this season he has plenty of juice left in the tank, the one-time West Ham United winger will look to try and give something back to the loyal and passionate O’s supporters this season by helping Orient reach Wembley.

“I haven’t won the FA Trophy, so for sure that is something I want to do and for any player it is all about winning things,” said McAnuff.

“If you are in a competition you want to do well in it and win it and I’m sure the fans would like to see us go deep into in the FA Trophy this year.

“We will take each game as it comes because we know Saturday will be a big one for Bognor, but it is one we are looking forward to and we will go there, aim to enjoy it and look to get back to winning ways.”

McAnuff continued: “We have had a couple of draws now, but if we can get a win at Bognor it gets us back on a little run and brings the confidence back.

“It is amazing once you win a game, no matter how you do it, the confidence comes flowing back and you can take it on.”