Jamaican international calls on team mates to keep believing in themselves and get a victory over the Christmas period

East London Advertiser: Leyton Orient's Jobi McAnuff lets fly from outside the area against Yeovil Town (pic: Simon O'Connor).Leyton Orient's Jobi McAnuff lets fly from outside the area against Yeovil Town (pic: Simon O'Connor). (Image: simon.oconnor@virgin.net)

Leyton Orient midfielder Jobi McAnuff believes their two matches over the Christmas period give them the perfect opportunity to get some momentum.

Portsmouth visit Brisbane Road on Boxing Day before Ian Hendon takes his side to Bristol Rovers two days later.

Both Pompey and the Gas are in the play-off positions at the moment and on decent runs of form.

While the O’s were booed off last time after struggling to draw 1-1 at home to Yeovil Town, who are in the relegation places.

The Jamaican international, however, believes now is a great time for Orient to get that winning feeling back.

“It is two good games for us. Pompey at home Boxing Day is a big one and obviously back on the road for Bristol Rovers another big game,” said McAnuff.

“We will have no problem getting up for them and it is good that they come quick and fast.

“Hopefully if we can get a couple of results all of a sudden it is a different picture. We just want to finish off this year well and if we are in the pack, which we are, then we are not a million miles off it.

“Obviously we would like to be higher up, but if you can get yourself in range and if we can go on a run, cut out the mistakes then all of a sudden it is a different picture.”

Unfortunately a huge problem for the O’s of late has been keeping clean sheets in the league. A combination of poor defending and individual errors has been key to them drawing their last four fixtures in the division.

But McAnuff believes all they need is one victory to get back on track and start doing things right again.

He added: “A lot of it is little mistakes here and there or concentration or not taking a chance when it comes up.

“I have been around long enough and when you are in a team that is flying and winning games it just becomes second nature and you don’t think about that chance it just drops down.

“You don’t think about that header which you get out the way because you are winning games and we just need to get back to that. We need to get a win first and foremost and then those things will start happening.

“As I say, we have no excuse about the first half against Yeovil, but up to that point our performances have generally been good in the middle – just conceding a poor goal and not sticking the ball away at the other end.

“We know we are capable of it and we have just got to keep believing in ourselves and making sure we do that on the pitch.”