Liverani: I’m still positive

O's Darius Henderson sees his effort saved by Stephen Bywater (pic: Simon O'Connor) (Image: Simon O"Connor/TGSPHOTO c/o 27 Plaiters Way)

Leyton Orient boss Fabio Liverani tried to look for the positives after his side’s 1-0 defeat to Doncaster Rovers at Brisbane Road.

Rob Jones headed the only goal of the game early in the second half to earn the visitors the points, as O’s Darius Henderson, Shane Lowry and Josh Wright were all denied by fine saves from Stephen Bywater.

The loss ended Orient’s four-game unbeaten run and left them just outside the League One relegation zone on goal difference with only four matches remaining.

But Liverani said: “I’m positive. We’re still outside the relegation zone on goal difference and this is our target until the end of the season.

“At the end of the day, we didn’t play particularly well but given the chances we created we probably deserved at least a draw.

“I think we played quite a good first half. We had quite a few good chances to score and then we conceded from a free-kick, which we conceded by stupidity and they scored on that occasion.

“But we still had chances to equalise.”

Orient dominated the first-half possession and Andrea Dossena steered a good chance wide from Scott Cuthbert’s cross before Henderson’s point-blank effort was kept out by Bywater’s reflex save.

But Rovers were improved after the restart and Jones thumped home a bullet header on 55 minutes to make the vital breakthrough.

Liverani added: “We do zone marking on free-kicks and the person who is on the zone nearest to him is the person responsible for picking him up.

“We have to be more focused on these sort of situations because it’s not the first time we have conceded a goal from a set-piece.”

Lowry’s header was blocked by Bywater at the other end and Wright’s shot was palmed wide, before Jay Simpson and Chris Dagnall also saw late chances go begging.

But Paul Dickov’s Doncaster held on, soaking up a succession of long balls into their box in the closing stages as Orient struggled to find a way through.

“The target wasn’t to kick long balls for the centre forwards, it was to try and go around and play the ball on the floor,” said Liverani.

“But in the last 10 minutes it’s difficult for the players to make wise and clear decisions. It was a bit disorganised in the last 10 minutes so we tried to score in whichever way was possible.”

And with a trip to third-placed MK Dons – who boast the third best defensive record in the division – up next for Liverani’s men, they need to start converting their chances if they are to avoid the drop.