Defender has been a regular since joining in the summer and has enjoyed life in east London despite mixed results on the pitch

East London Advertiser: Leyton Orient manager Alberto Cavasin issues instructions from the touchline at Southend United (pic: Simon O'Connor).Leyton Orient manager Alberto Cavasin issues instructions from the touchline at Southend United (pic: Simon O'Connor). (Image: Simon O'Connor Photography)

Tom Parkes feels the Leyton Orient squad must stick together to ensure they move up the League Two table after a poor run of form.

After Saturday’s goalless draw at Barnet, the O’s have dropped to 17th in the standings with just 12 points from 11 games.

Italian Alberto Cavasin has been appointed as the new manager at Brisbane Road and will take charge of his first league game this weekend when Portsmouth visit.

“We have got to stick together as a team and not let anything get in the way of our performances,” said Parkes after Saturday’s draw.

“When we turn up for a game and training we have to always give 100 per cent and we’ve done that.

“Sometimes results haven’t come off the way we wanted, but I’ve never doubted we don’t put 100 per cent into the matches.”

Although Orient have only won three times in the division this season, Parkes has enjoyed life in east London since joining from Bristol Rovers in the summer.

The 24-year-old has started every game in League Two and despite the occasional error has largely looked solid at the heart of defence.

Andy Hessenthaler was the man to bring the ex-Rovers captain to E10, but he was sacked last week.

“I knew when I met the manager that I was coming into a good club and I’m enjoying my football again,” added Parkes.

“The results haven’t gone our way but with the team we’ve got, I know if we can start building bridges we can go on and do good things here.”

If Orient are to achieve success the supporters will have to play their part and over the last week they have got behind the team brilliantly.

The atmosphere at Brisbane Road last Tuesday (September 27) was the best I’ve witnessed at an O’s game since I began covering the club in April 2015.

All of the home supporters applauded the players off the pitch despite a 2-0 defeat to Plymouth Argyle and they did the same on Saturday at Barnet after witnessing another display of heart and effort.

Parkes added: “The fans were fantastic on Saturday and they were brilliant on Tuesday as well.

“Hopefully if they keep behind us and we get results for them it will make them happy.”

What was pleasing last weekend was to see Orient defend set-pieces better than in previous matches.

It has been an ongoing problem for the O’s this season and even going into last season, but they looked a lot more solid at Barnet.

The Bees did have the ball in the net from one corner, although Bira Dembele had handled and therefore referee Darren Handley correctly ruled it out.

Orient themselves looked a threat from corners and free kicks as well, but it finished goalless between the two London rivals.

“We’ve worked on set-pieces and the delivery was good, I think they defended very well. When we had to defend our set-pieces we did the same,” said Parkes.

“Losing three in a row has been tough on the boys, but to get a point at Barnet, a tough place to come, the boys did really well.”

Orient would have hoped to build on their 0-0 draw when they visited Southend United in the EFL Trophy last night, but suffered a 1-0 defeat in Cavasin’s first match in charge.

League Two is the priority, though, and they need to get back to picking up three points on a regular basis very quickly.