Russell Slade believes Leyton Orient can still improve this season despite watching his side topple promotion rivals Peterborough United.

The O’s produced a superb performance to win 3-1 at Posh and strengthen their position at the top of League 1.

But although Orient could be excused for easing up ahead of this weekend’s FA Cup first round tie at home to Southport, the manager insists his side will still aspire to raise the bar higher.

Slade said: “We have to continue to get better if we can get better than what we’ve done [at Peterborough]. We start all over again with our preparation for the cup game this weekend.

"That’s the sort of character we’ve got in the changing room. There are no energy sappers, they’re all energisers and all want to do well for each other. We’ll go and work hard at our jobs again next week and hopefully put in a similar performance.”

Orient face Conference outfit Southport at Brisbane Road before a southern area Johnstone’s Paint Trophy tie at League 1 rivals Stevenage next Tuesday evening.

But Slade insists there will be no let up from his team and they will take their upcoming cup clashes seriously.

He said: “They’re all challenges and you’re going to get challenges of a different nature all the way through the season. We’ve got a couple of cup games coming up and we’ll embrace those and we’ll get on with it.”

The O’s have faced Southport seven times with the most recent meeting a 2-0 away FA Cup win in the third round in 1999.

The East Londoners have been tremendously consistent over the last 12 months and the O’s manager insists his side have to keep doing the same things which have taken them to the summit of the division.

Slade said: “I think we’ve played 45 games in the league [since November] and mounted up 93 points so it’s a momentum. It’s not making a statement on one occasion. You’ve got to do it week in, week out and I think we’ve done that. I think we’ve overcome the challenges over a long period of time now and we just need to keep that going. That’s the test for us to keep that going and that momentum going.

“We have to keep doing exactly what we’re doing. Of course we’re going to face challenges when we get suspensions and injuries because that’s part of it and we’ve only got a little squad. People are going to have to step up at certain points and we’re going to have to dig in and get results. I understand that and that’s what it’s like being the manager of Leyton Orient. I’ve got a really good group and I know that they’ll never give up.”

The O’s boss has been in charge of unfashionable clubs such as Grimsby Town, Yeovil Town and Scarborough but insists he gets satisfaction from seeing his budget buys giving total commitment on the pitch.

Slade said: “That’s how it’s been for the last 12 months. It’s been a really good spell. I’ve got a good group of players together and we’ve kept them together and continued that momentum, so it’s really pleasing. You get ups and downs in management and I’ve been fortunate to get into a couple of play-offs and kept a couple of clubs up.

“Maybe they’re not some of the most fashionable clubs in the world I’ve been at, but when you’ve got a group together like this it makes up for not having the millions of pounds to put out a designer team. We’ve got a good group of free transfers that fight tooth and nail week, in week out and that will do for me.”

With such a small squad, the opportunity to bring in extra players in the January transfer window is an obvious target. But Slade admits the club will not be able to spend heavily on wages even if they do make any signings.

Slade said: “I think every manager is looking every week to see what might be round the corner and we’re no different.

“We’ll be looking, if we do get injuries, to see if there is anything out there that we may need to bring in at some stage. Barry [Hearn] and the commercial department and everybody at the football club is looking to see if they can find me a few pennies for the January window. It will be pennies, it won’t be thousands but whatever we can get will be a plus.”

Orient captain Nathan Clarke admits everyone in the squad is eager to play in the cup competitions, with the team in such good form, although he expects the manager to make several changes.

“The lads in there are excited for every game,” Clarke said. “It’s a cup that we want to do well in and it’s possibly a chance to rest one or two and bring in some fresh faces. But every game matters at the moment and while you’re winning you want to keep playing.”

The defender admits the expectancy levels have soared over the course of the season and insists the squad have the belief to go on and challenge for promotion.

Clarke said: “The expectancy is there now with the fans and they believe as we do. We believe we can do something special this season and the expectation comes with the performances we’ve been putting in and we’re always testing ourselves.”