Former Oldham Athletic captain was disappointed they allowed themselves to lose focus against Newport County

Liam Kelly insists expectation should be high at Leyton Orient this season and they need to learn how to handle it.

The 26-year-old made his first start of the League Two campaign for O’s on Saturday at home to Newport County.

It didn’t go to plan for the hosts, however, as they lost 1-0 after Jamie Turley scored in the 34th minute.

Having drawn 1-1 at Cheltenham Town on the opening day of the season - it hasn’t been the start Orient expected.

“Expectations should be high and if you look at the squad we have here, we should be winning games,” said Kelly.

“There’s no excuse for not achieving that, expectation should drive you on and the expectation is right – we should be winning games.

“You look at Newport, apart from the goal, Alex Cisak hasn’t had a save to make and we’ve conceded from another set piece.

“In open play I thought we were the more dangerous team and if we are more clinical, we take something from the game.”

Orient initially made a bright start, but soon got dragged into a battle with Newport and lost focus because of that.

The Exiles looked sharper and more dangerous in the first 45 and deserved to come in with the lead and it could have been more.

Andy Hessenthaler’s side responded well after the break and began to create regular opportunities, but nothing really clear cut.

Kelly had an effort blocked before Harry Cornick’s low shot was saved and Palmer header over following a corner.

The best chance of the match occurred six minutes from time when Sandro Semedo crossed in from the left with his right foot.

Palmer was unmarked at the back post and went for a diving header, but got it wrong and headed well wide from four-yards.

“A lot of teams in this league want to get into a battle, that is their strength and if you play into that, it makes it hard,” said Kelly.

“We need to play to our strengths and in the second half we did that and created numerous opportunities. We didn’t use our heads in the first half of the game.

“We’ve had some great chances and Ollie has had a fantastic one that he should have scored. Even in the first half the ball has been in the box and ricocheting about, but we have to be clinical.”