Defender fully focused on the visit of Crawley Town and not Carlisle United fixture next week

Defender Shaun Brisley has called on his Leyton Orient team-mates to put together a consistent run of form in League Two.

The O’s host Crawley Town at Brisbane Road this weekend having dropped to 10th in the table following Wimbledon’s win over Carlisle United on Tuesday.

A win for Oxford United as well, who occupy the final automatic promotion spot, means they are nine points above Kevin Nolan’s side too.

It makes Saturday’s fixture even more important with the battle for the play-off positions hotting up.

While results have improved since Nolan took charge – O’s have won four of their six games under the former West Ham United captain – their inconsistency earlier in the campaign means they are a point off the top seven despite a 1-0 success at Notts County last weekend.

Brisley said: “The main thing is we need to get some consistency built into our game. Those little runs you go on where you continuously pick up points are the ones that move you up the table and secure your position in the play-offs.

“Then you can maybe even push for the automatic spots, but we definitely need to bring more consistency into our game.”

Orient’s form in E10 needs to improve if they are to achieve their aims this season.

Nolan is well aware that results must get better at Brisbane Road and joked he will check the players into a hotel before facing the Reds on Saturday.

Brisley also acknowledged that the O’s have to turn their home into a fortress.

Although they defeated Newport County on January 26, they have failed to win six of their last eight games there in all competitions since November 28.

“Getting more consistency at the minute is looking like improving our home form, because our performances on the road have been spot on,” added Brisley.

“It is something we will look at and try to address so we can pick up another three points against Crawley.”

The O’s record against the Sussex outfit doesn’t make pretty reading, however. A 4-1 win over the Reds last season is the only positive result Orient have achieved during their seven meetings.

Earlier in the campaign, Alan Dunne saw red at Broadfield Stadium and it resulted in a 3-2 loss for the visitors.

Crawley were struggling then and are 17th in the table right now, so Nolan’s men have to pick up a victory this weekend.

After Saturday’s match, they face the long trip up to Carlisle on Tuesday (March 1). But Brisley is remaining focused on the first game at hand.

“I think always as a footballer you have to just concentrate on the next game,” said the 25-year-old.

“We enjoyed our good win at Notts County last week, but now all the focus is on Crawley. We need to pick up another three points and then go from there.

“You can’t be skipping games and looking ahead that far, you need to take each one as it comes.”

Orient’s first job will be to see off Crawley and then they will have the opportunity to dent the Cumbrians faint play-off hopes.

Both are vitally important games, but first Nolan’s men must deliver a home performance and result on Saturday.