Leyton Orient boss Danny Webb optimistic ahead of battle with Plymouth Argyle at Home Park

Last time the two clubs met, the O’s had two players sent off after 14 minutes, but they are looking to build more momentum this evening

Leyton Orient manager Danny Webb knows the size of the challenge facing his players tonight at Plymouth Argyle, but still harbours hope of coming away from Home Park with a point.

The O’s take on a Pilgrims side sitting second in the table having won four of their last five League Two games.

Orient, in contrast, only claimed their first point of 2017 last weekend with a 1-1 draw at Yeovil Town, but Webb is optimistic.

He said: “If we had gone to Plymouth after a defeat on Saturday, I know the boys would have been up for it because I’ve managed to get that amongst them now and get that team spirit, which I pride myself on.

“But you can be the bravest footballer in the world - when you have lost a number of games on the trot and you visit a team which is flying it is difficult to lift yourself.

“I hope the draw at Yeovil will give the boys the psychological lift they deserve ahead of playing Plymouth.

“Saturday’s point could be important at the end of the season, so hopefully we can go to Home Park now and get something there.”

Webb was reminded of the last time Orient faced Argyle when speaking to the press on Saturday afternoon.

He was on the touchline with Andy Edwards that day, on September 27, as the pair took on the Devon club.

Andy Hessenthaler had been sacked a few days before and Orient made the worse possible start against Plymouth.

Robbie Weir was sent off inside 25 seconds and Jens Janse received his marching orders before quarter of an hour had been played.

Plymouth were already one up by that point, but O’s produced a heroic defensive display before eventually losing 2-0.

The atmosphere at Brisbane Road was sensational and the performance still remains one of Orient’s best this season.

But Webb is praying his team don’t suffer more red card trouble tonight, especially with some crucial fixtures coming up.

He joked: “Don’t mention the last game because you’ve now tempted fate! We’re going to have three sent off.

“It was a bit of a freak match, so hopefully nothing similar happens and even if we did I think we’d have a go.”

A glance at the league table shows Orient are still firmly in trouble, but Webb and his coaching staff have lifted morale at Brisbane Road.

January proved to be an incredibly difficult month with players put up for sale and it affected results on the pitch.

But Webb, with the help of Omer Riza and Michael Amoah, has quickly created a siege mentality at E10.

Even though the Orient boss hoped to claim all three points at Yeovil, he hopes the draw will improve his squad’s belief.

With big games to come against Notts County and Cheltenham Town, another strong performance tonight would keep the momentum building.

“I was hoping to come down to Yeovil and get three points, like the boys were, but a draw was the least they deserved,” said Webb.

“Over the last three games I’ve been very pleased and positive with them and they have made my job easy in a way because they’ve shown that positivity back. “Although we are still in the bottom two, this point should give the players that little bit more belief.”