SEAN Thornton is fired up ahead of Saturday's clash with MK Dons.

The Irishman hit two goals in last weekend's defeat at Swindon and has impressed with his work-rate since he returned from a knee injury.

The influential play-maker hit out after the defeat, claiming Orient were “much better” than Town, and blaming the result on sloppy defending.

Thornton, who's words echoed boss Geraint Williams' on the defeat, said he is confident that Orient can keep up their run of being defeated just once at home in league action since August, on Saturday.

“We've got people coming to our place now struggling to take away points and we don't fear anybody in this league” said Thornton.

“We're not getting results at the minute” he said. “It's not like we're overawed by Swindon away and MK Dons, we're as good as anybody.”

The midfielder is not even ruling out a push for the play-offs, but only if the team can be consistent.

“Going into the game, we were nine points off the play-offs, which shows how easy it is to get up there.

"But if we win like we did on Tuesday and then lose to Swindon, we won't do that.”

Thornton revealed he preferred playing in a 4-4-2 formation to the 4-5-1 boss Geraint Williams employed for part of last Saturday's match and against Leeds.

“That's when I thought we started playing better football” he reflected. “But that's the gaffer's decision.

"That's the second time we used it and it would have been a different story too, only we conceded sloppy goals.”

Thornton scored two terrific long range efforts on 67 minutes and in extra time.

He might have had a hat-trick but was denied twice at point-blank range during the first half in what boss Williams called “the chance of the season.”