The 36-year-old discussed what it felt like to manage the O’s and paid tribute to former boss Steve Davis after the 1-1 draw with Dover Athletic

East London Advertiser: Leyton Orient midfielder Craig Clay celebrates his equaliser against Dover Athletic (pic: Simon O'Connor).Leyton Orient midfielder Craig Clay celebrates his equaliser against Dover Athletic (pic: Simon O'Connor). (Image: Simon O'Connor Photography)

Ross Embleton has spoken of his pride at managing Leyton Orient for the first time on Saturday having been asked to take charge on an interim basis following the recent sacking of Steve Davis.

The O’s impressed at home to Dover Athletic and produced one of their best displays of the season with Craig Clay’s second half strike earning them a deserved point in a 1-1 draw.

Nortei Nortey gave the away side the lead with 23 on the clock, but Orient showed plenty of character to end a run of five consecutive league defeats at Brisbane Road.

Embleton said: “It was an extremely proud moment because I look at the football jobs this club has got and I’ve done a lot of them including being on the other side of the road with the community.

“Being the manager is something I actually never thought I’d do and I said in the club preview my dream would have been to step on the pitch and score a hat-trick rather than be manager!

“But I’m extremely proud and my Mum and Dad were at the ground along with the rest of my family and my wife and my two children, so it means a hell of a lot to all of us because this club has been part of our lives.

“It was a bit strange at times until you get caught up in the moment, but actually when you have a period where the ball goes out of play, I’d think ‘hang on, I’m standing here as manager’, so it is a little bit surreal, but you can’t let that take over your professionalism and you’ve got to do the job properly.”

The 36-year-old, who celebrated his birthday earlier this month, made a point of paying tribute to his former boss after the 1-1 draw.

Davis was sacked last Tuesday after a poor run of results saw Orient drop to 19th in the table having been second on September 2 after beating Guiseley 4-1 at Brisbane Road.

“Steve’s a good man and sometimes in football it can get lost,” added Embleton after working with the ex-Crewe Alexandra manager since the summer.

“I acknowledge totally you become the manager rather than the person and it’s easy to criticise the manager and become personal and that’s how people vent their frustrations and it comes with the territory.

“But I didn’t want it to be forgotten that Steve was a good guy and he did come into this club every day and he did apply himself to the most he could to help the team to perform, so I felt it was important that was recognised.

“It is about people sometimes and not just that he is Steve Davis the football manager.”