'PROUD' was how boss Russell Slade described himself after Orient made it two wins from three away games on Saturday.
The O’s beat Tranmere Rovers 2-1 at Prenton Park.
The visitors had to withstand an ariel bombardment by ex-sponge man Les Parry’s Rovers side.
But they did so with an excellent display of character and also slices of luck.
Loan keeper Jason Brown was superb as he made himself into a wall against the hosts.
It was a performance which built upon the foundations laid by last month’s win at Bristol Rovers.
Now Orient can at last lay to rest a dismal winless away streak in League One that had stretched back 11 months.
“I’m really, really pleased,” said Slade.
“To wait so long for an away win and to then get two out of three games is really gratifying.
“It was not an easy place to come and get a result.
“All that hard work is starting to show on the pitch and the positive thing is we are always capable of getting a goal.
“Our form is decent. We’ve only lost two in 17 and it‘s getting better.
“And, even though we have lost players, we have maintained a certain momentum."
Scott McGleish moved on to 11 goals this season when he tapped in during first-half injury time.
That followed Stephen Dawson’s first ever goal for Orient with just ten minutes gone in the game.
Orient fielded a patched-up side on Merseyside, shorn of first-choice centre-backs Ben Chorley and Terrell Forbes.
Adam Chambers and Dean Cox were also missing from the squad.
“They put a shift in, all working hard to try and dig out a result," added Slade. "I am really proud of them as I can’t ask for more."
Orient’s lead was put under serious strain by a Rovers side desperate to carry on climbing away from the drop zone.
The hosts clattered the crossbar late on with an Ian Goodison cracker, as Brown pulled off a string of stunning saves.
Fans who remember Prenton Park as a graveyard for Orient will have been heartened by the character the players showed this time.
The sustained pressure which the O's absorbed would have almost certainly caused the side to crack last season.
“I thought we were really comfortable until they scored, but then they started to put the pressure on," continued Slade.
Tranmere will perhaps feel they should have got back in the game.
“But, even that all said, Jonathan Téhoué has had a chance at the end, which they cleared brilliantly off the line. Scotty McGleish had a header.
“So, it wasn’t like we hadn’t stopped creating opportunities, but they hit the crossbar and could have got themselves a point.”
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