East Londoners boss again reiterates need to concentrate on only themselves

Leyton Orient player-manager Kevin Nolan isn’t concerned about other teams and wants his squad to remain focused on themselves in the battle for promotion.

The O’s picked up another point on Tuesday, this time at Carlisle United, in their quest to get back to League One at the first time of asking.

Jay Simpson and Ollie Palmer were in the goals after the break to put the visitors in the lead after Macauley Gillesphey had put the Cumbrians ahead in the 17th minute with a fine free kick.

But O’s conceded six minutes from time when Michael Raynes headed in to give both sides a share of the spoils.

It keeps Orient in the play-off positions, in seventh place on 53 points, ahead of hosting Luton Town this weekend.

“The ultimate aim is to be among the leading pack as the season progresses and we have no airs and graces about it,” he said.

“At the moment we are in and amongst it, which is the main thing. I don’t really look at the table, but as long as we keep winning and focus on ourselves, I will be happy.

“I want to keep it on us and make sure we stick together, we stay as a pack and if we do that I am really confident we can be a successful side.

“Hopefully when we get to April and May, when the matches have a bit more edge, that is when we can have a look to see where we will be come the end of the season.”

Nolan hopes the point at Carlisle can be a crucial one, despite his side conceding late on.

Another win on the road would have taken Orient up to fifth in the table, but there were plenty of positives to take from the 2-2 draw.

Leading scorer Simpson ended his five-match run without a goal and Palmer demonstrated once again what an impact he can have off the bench.

“When we look back, we are going to be very disappointed having managed to get ourselves 2-1 up,” added Nolan.

“But we are hoping it will be a fantastic point come the end of the campaign and you have to respect the result, especially when you come to a place like Carlisle on a cold night, where it is blustery with the wind going here and everywhere, plus the rain.

“In the end we probably could’ve snatched it, but they would have been equally disappointed.”