The O’s host National League leaders Sutton United on Saturday with their 47-year-old boss relishing the battle ahead with the U’s

Leyton Orient face the daunting prospect of hosting National League leaders Sutton United this weekend, but one person who is excited about the match is the new O’s head coach.

Former Gillingham and Northampton Town manager Justin Edinburgh was appointed as Steve Davis’ successor on November 29 and he will take charge of his first home game on Saturday.

Last weekend he saw Orient suffer another embarrassing loss in the division – this one away to basement club Solihull Moors – in his debut as O’s head coach.

But despite that poor result, the 47-year-old, who enjoyed a successful playing career most notably with Tottenham Hotspur, is confident he will turn things around for the east Londoners.

Edinburgh said: “I’m really excited about my first home game in charge and I’m excited about the challenge.

“I’ve not come in blinkered or not knowing the run this club is on, but we have to embrace it and hit it head on and that’s what I’m about.

“The jobs you get at this stage of the season are the jobs where a club is in a position because it has not won enough games, but it can’t always be someone else’s fault.

“We spoke after the Solihull defeat about self-reflection and honesty and if we get that, we’ll move forward, but if we don’t, we’ll have to leave some of these guys behind because this is not acceptable for anyone and not for the players either.

“They players are not happy and they are hurting like the fans and I know there is anger and tension around and we understand that, but it is our job to take it away and give something for people to be proud of and that’s my job to make sure we do that.”

Orient supporters made their disappointment heard at Damson Park with chants of ‘you’re not fit to wear the shirt’ at the end of their 1-0 defeat at Solihull.

Stand-in captain Jobi McAnuff was then involved in a heated exchange with one fan after appearing to go over to apologise to the 533 travelling O’s support.

Understandably, after 15 league games without a win, supporters are not interested in players saying sorry anymore and what they want to see is some passion and heart on the pitch.

Pace-setters Sutton, who have won four of their last five matches in the division, will show that on Saturday and Orient must at least match them.