O’s boss looking for team to impress at home and show they deserve to be in play-offs

Leyton Orient player-manager Kevin Nolan is keen for his team to show their quality against Morecambe tomorrow (Saturday) in League Two.

The O’s welcome the Shrimpers to Brisbane Road looking to improve their form in front of their own fans.

While they won 1-0 at Oxford United last weekend, the Saturday before they were beaten by Luton Town at home.

It has been a familiar pattern with the east Londoners defeating Crawley Town 2-0 at Brisbane Road in February, but also suffering a four-goal reverse to division leaders Northampton Town at the start of the month.

But with Morecambe set to make the long trip to London, Nolan is keen for his side to show their ability and get all three points.

He said: “The last two home games we have dominated from start to finish, but Luton got that goal. It was a slip up from our point of view so that was disappointing and gave them the chance to hang on.

“They didn’t really get out of their half, I think they had two chances all game and both were from goal kicks – that’s disappointing.

“What pleased me more at Oxford was the quality we showed in the final third because it had been so disappointing in the game against Luton.

“We are looking for a Crawley performance this weekend with the goals and another clean sheet would obviously be nice.

“Most importantly we need to try and make sure our game plan works, which it has done over the last coming weeks.

“We’ve been delighted with that and we need to get it right again then get our quality right. If we do that, more often than not you will see us with more wins than losses.”

Wycombe Wanderers 1-1 draw at Accrington Stanley on Wednesday resulted in Orient dropping down to eighth.

Nolan is pleased that most of the teams in the top half of the table have played the same number of matches now.

He is determined to see his side show they deserve to finish in the play-off positions.

“Every game is important between now and the end of the season. I think it has basically evened itself out now where everybody is on the same number of matches,” added Nolan.

“People were playing catch up and had fixtures in hand, but now it is about us. We need to go on a run, I keep mentioning it, but we haven’t done it since I’ve been here.

“I think we’ve got to three games unbeaten and then it has gone so now the challenge is to do four then five and six. If we can do that then we will put in a real push for the play-offs.

“Who knows what can happen if you go on a run like Luton have where they have won four on the spin. You get that luck along with good play and then it could hold us in good stead before the end of the season and is what we’re aiming for.”