THE CHRISTMAS celebrations are on hold at Orient ahead of a pair of crunch yuletide games which could shape the campaign.

The O’s take on Brighton & Hove Albion at the Withdean Stadium on Boxing Day, and then host Southend United at Brisbane Road two days later.

The festive spirit would surely curdle there if Orient lose the Brighton clash and then end up on the very cusp of the drop-zone alongside the Seagulls.

But two wins would catapult boss Geraint Williams’ side up into the middle of League One.

Last weekend, at Walsall, Troy Deeeney was the Grinch as Orient ended up with two fewer points than their 2-0 half-time lead had made look likely.

Deeney struck twice to rescue a draw for the hosts and left O’s scorer Tamika Mkandawire with a lump of coal, instead of an early present.

“After our first half, it was definitely a lump of coal,” the centre-back said afterwards. “We got a point but threw away two.”

He was surprised the game went ahead at all, calling the patchy and icy conditions 'an absolute joke'.

The man from Mali revealed that what he wants for Christmas is a clean sheet, because there has not been one of those since September.

That has left highly-rated Mkandawire, and his partner at the back, Ben Chorley, puzzled.

“It’s not something we can put our finger on,” Mkandawire said. “We defend as a team and we attack as a team. We just have to keep working on it.

“We need to get some points on the board. We’ve got to win at least one of those games (Brighton and Southend), and after that first-half performance, it’s clear we’re good enough. It’s just about sticking it out and grinding out results.”

The departure this week from the club of loanee Luke Summerfield has deprived Williams of an assured midfield presence to help make that happen.

The 22 year-old wants to break into the first team at Plymouth Argyle, but it is understood Orient will keep an eye on his availability.

Summerfield told the Guardian he would not rule out another spell at Brisbane Road.

“I enjoyed my stay here and played to the best of my ability. I’m going to go back to Plymouth and see what happens. I’m a footballer and I want to play. If not, I’ll look to get out.

“The loan spell’s been brilliant. I came here to play games and I really enjoyed my football.

“Hopefully they’ll get out of this dogfight, get a few results which will take them up the table. They’ve been brilliant.”

But Summerfield leaves at a taxing time for Orient, who are hovering just above the relegation zone.

Williams could certainly use his creative and destructive skills in the centre of the park, with Adam Chambers only just back from an injury nightmare.

The manager has plenty to think about going into the new year.

“We never take anything for granted at the O’s,” he said. “We’ve got into a winning position on a number of occasions, but we haven’t quite seen it through as often as we would like.

“Walsall got at us and we conceded again. That’s the problem we have at the moment.”