No more excuses says Embleton after Orient get a Crewe cut

Interim Leyton Orient head coach, Ross Embleton admitted: “It was another 90 minutes when we didn’t see the game out,” after the O’s crashed to another defeat on Tuesday evening.

It hurts, but I’m getting fed up of feeling let down and it doesn’t make things any better when opposing managers tell us we were unlucky and deserved something out of the match.”

He added: “There were two teams out there, this evening, trying to win the game. Late on, we got a warning with Porter getting the other side of Marvin [Ektipeta]. But, we’ve left ourselves open and conceded from an almost identical situation.

“We’ve got to be more focused, mature and manage the game better.’

Having now faced Swindon, Exeter and Crewe, in quick succession, Embleton said: “We knew these were tough fixtures we were coming into, but, we’ve got to stop giving excuses and get something out of these games.”

He admitted: “We have to develop a ruthlessness in our penalty box and in the opposing penalty box. We had a couple of opportunities, this evening, to smash the ball in the back of the net – but we tried to be too intricate. That’s something where we need to take the shackles off.”

Embleton concluded: “That is the ruthless and nasty side we need to develop – not to go around kicking people and picking up bookings. That element has now gone from English football.”

O’s keeper, Dean Brill added: “Every game in this division is tough, as we’ve stepped up a level – where everybody is competing for the same prize. I’m looking forward to it [the challenge]. But, the boys have to put things right.”

Brill admitted: “At the moment it’s the moments, which are costing us. It’s about game management – whether we roll the ball in behind them or take the ball into the corners – and win the game that way, as opposed to try and win the game in a swashbuckling fashion.”

Although it’s too early to worry about a relegation scrap, Brill warned: “At the moment, it’s about not letting this [form] creep on any longer, than it has. To look at the league table eight games in would be silly, as there are a lot of ‘ifs and buts’.”

“If we had taken our chances against Stevenage and if we had seen the game out against Crawley – then we’d probably be sitting in the top six or seven. At the moment it’s about stopping those things that are stopping us going forward.”

Brill concluded by paying tribute to the fans: “They know that over the past couple of years – as a group – we do give our all. We know they give their all, following us in great numbers. It’s all about togetherness, and going forward that needs to stay the case.”

Crewe boss, Dave Artell said: “It was our worst performance of the season, but a great result. But, we all stood up to be counted and James Jones showed great professionalism to grab his late goal.’